The Nation Newspaper

Tag: committed

  • We’re committed to people’s welfare, says council chief

    We have no business in public office other than serving the people and that we are stubbornly committed to,” the Chairman, Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Mr Bolaji Robert, said yesterday.

    It was his response to the praises trailing his administration’s achievements, especially in the area of infrastructural development.

    Words of commendation also flowed for him while inspecting ongoing construction works on Ido-Oluwo concrete foot bridge and Egan Town Hall in the riverine area.

    The chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) in the area, Mr Adelaja West, said Robert’s achievements show his determined leadership, describing him as a leader that listens and understands his people’s pulse.

    West said the concrete footbridge is a replacement of the broken wooden one which was constructed long time ago, adding that the new bridge would make the area accessible.

    Robert who reiterated his commitment to providing residents with basic social welfare programmes, explained that his administration had constructed three new modern nursery/primary schools in Ilemba-Awori, Ajewanwa and Ibasa-Nla communities, adding: “Imude and Jakande communities are now enjoying basic health services with the presence of modern Primary Health Centres. One will soon be inaugurated in Ijanikin, one of the largest wards in the council area.”

    “We are determined to continue to do the needful within our power to establish a lasting legacy on all fronts in the interest of our people,” Robert said.

  • Katsina committed to agric

    The Katsina State government has expressed its support to all agricultural programmes to further boost socio-economic activities in the state.

    Alhaji Musa Adamu, the Commissioner for Agriculture, said this while launching the distribution of working tools to the beneficiaries of Fadama III Project in Ingawa.

    He said that part of the state government’s commitment was the settlement of counterpart funding for agricultural projects, including the Fadama programmes.

    He noted that the government had made agriculture one of its priorities; hence its resolve to provide fertiliser, agrochemical and other implements to the farmers at subsidised rates across the state.

    The commissioner also said that government had provided agricultural loans to all categories of farmers as part of efforts toward boosting agriculture and self-employment among the people of the state.

    Adamu, who praise d Fadama III for the distribution of the items, urged the beneficiaries to make best use of them to enhance their economic well-being.

    Earlier, the state Fadama Coordinator, Alhaji Magaji Bakori, said communities in Ingawa Local Government had benefited from the project worth N28 million.

    He commended the state government for its continued support to the Fadama project in the state.

    In his address, Alhaji Hussaini Dambo, Caretaker Chairman, Ingawa Local Government Council, thanked both the state government and Fadama project for selecting the area as one of the beneficiaries.

    Items distributed include oxen, ploughs, carts, spraying and grinding machines.

  • How N1.1b subsidy fraud was committed, by witness

    Three oil marketers – Abdullahi Alao, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi – were yesterday alleged to have forged the documents with which they committed N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

    A prosecution witness, Mr. Mohammed Adedapo, made the allegation when he testified at the resumed trial of the marketers before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

    The marketers and their firms – Axenergy Limited and Majope Investment Limited – were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged subsidy fraud.

    Adedapo, who is an inspector of petroleum products of Q and Q Control Marine Services Nigeria Limited, told the court that Alao, the son of Ibadan business mogul, Aare Abdulazeez Alao-Arisekola, and other defendants, allegedly obtained subsidy for 15,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products, instead of the 4,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products they imported.

    The witness said the discharge was done at Lister Jetty, Apapa, Lagos, between January 22 and 23, 2011.

    Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Mr Francis Usani, the witness said Q and Q was contracted by Oando Oil and Gas Plc to inspect the quantity of products brought in by a vessel, MT Brief, on behalf of Majope Investment Limited.

    Adedapo said the vessel, which brought the petroleum products allegedly discharged only about 4,000 metric tonnes into the facility while it took away the remaining.

    The witness added that following the discrepancy discovered in the transaction, he wrote a protest letter to the captain of the ship and stated the fact of the transaction.

    Adedapo said he issued a Shore Tank Certificate to the marketers, stating that only 4,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products were discharged.

    Following the testimony, Falana urged him to sign on a blank paper to compare the signatures. They were admitted as Exhibit P6 by the court.

    Justice Okunnu adjourned the matter till July 24 for the continuation of the trial.

    During cross-examination by the defendants’ counsel, Mr Wale Akoni (SAN) and Mr Oludare Falana, the witness said he did not sign any document indicating that 15,000 metric tonnes of fuel were discharged.

    “The Shore Tank Certificate, showing 15,000 metric tonnes, was not signed by me. The signature looks like mine but this document did not emanate from Q and Q,” Adedapo added.

  • ‘We are committed to delivering the MDGs’

    ‘We are committed to delivering the MDGs’

    Procter & Gamble (P&G), makers of household brands, has been honoured with the African First Ladies Award for Excellence in social investments across Africa.

    The award was presented by the First Lady of Namibia, Mrs. Penehupifo Pohamba, to the P&G West Africa Vice President, Mr Manoj Kumar.

    At the African First Ladies Summit in Los Angeles, United States, Kumar, who gave a talk on the need to strengthen public-private partnerships to deliver the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa, said P&G has been in sub-Sahara Africa for over 20 years. He said P&G was dedicated to providing everyday basics that help create the experience of home and improve health and boost confidence.

    He said: “P&G provides various hygiene education programmes for over 50 million children in 17 sub Saharan African countries and aims to double this number in 40 African countries by 2016. “With our various social programmes, we are investing and contributing to the overall heath, wellness and vitality of the African people and actively contributing to the attainment of pertinent health focused MDG’s across several countries in Africa.”

    On P&G’s view of the economic climate of Africa, he stated that “P&G is very optimistic about Africa and its potential, 9 Sub-Saharan countries are among the 20 fastest growing economies in 2013. Sub-Saharan GDP is forecast to grow faster than Brazil and Russia between 2013 and 2020. P&G is accelerating its investment in Africa by expanding our manufacturing platform and accelerating geographic expansion through our distribution partners – generating thousands of jobs across SSA and creating hundreds of new SMEs in the region. For example in Nigeria, P&G is expanding its operations with a new state of the art manufacturing plant being built in Ogun State, and just a few weeks back, P&G announced that it would be investing in the construction of a new manufacturing plant in South Africa,” he said. In another development, Procter and Gamble Nigeria has hosted a ‘Thank You Mom’ event to celebrate mothers of Olympians’ in Nigeria at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Complex, National Stadium, Lagos.

    Present at the event were the wife of Head of Service, Lagos State, Mrs Adenike Ogunlewe, who represented the First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola; the permanent secretary of Youth and Sports, Dr. Oshinyimika representing the Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Barrister Waheed Oshodi; President, Nigerian Olympians Association, Henry Amike; Renowned Musician, Onyeka Onwenu; Olympic Silver Medallist, Chief Falilat Ogunkoya Omotayo MON; CSP Nigerian Police Force and Olympic Gold Medallist, Chioma Ajunwa amongst others.

    Head, Government Relations, Procter and Gamble Nigeria, Tope Iluyemi said, Procter and Gamble is a proud sponsor of moms worldwide, for their tirelessly contributing to the development of their children.

    “Procter and Gamble is a proud sponsor of moms, and this event is one of the ways we honour moms for the tireless efforts they contribute towards the development of their children. We recognise that behind every amazing athlete is an even more amazing mom. Being in the business of helping moms with brands that make everyday life a little easier, P&G is the proud sponsor of moms in every aspect our business.

    Iluyemi stated that in 2010, P&G signed a 10 year partnership with the International Olympians Committee (IOC) to support the Olympics games and develop youth sports globally and P&G has begun fulfilling that promise locally by donating to 3000 schools across the country as well as renovating sports facilities in various schools pan Nigeria.

    Brand Operations Leader, Procter and Gamble West Africa, Mrs Ehinomen Enekabor in her speech said: “The Thank You Mom campaign recognises and celebrates the moms behind the athletes by thanking moms for all they do, and is part of P&G’s 10 year worldwide partnership with the International Olympians Committee (IOC) and we are using our voice as an IOC partner to thank moms everywhere.”

    The ‘Thank You Mom’ campaign started in 2011 Enekabor said, “And it came to life through variety of media channels and in-stores across the globe. As part of the campaign, we have committed to raise $5 million to support local youth sports programs in many countries and we have started the donations in schools across Nigeria.”

    On why Procter and Gamble is focusing on youth sports development, Enekabor said that, “We wanted to do something that would make a significant difference to moms all over the world so we asked moms in several countries that we could we do to honour them for all they do for their kids and they told is that there was no better way to support moms than by supporting local youth sports organizations for kids. We agree with moms; investing in tomorrow’s champions has to start today. At P&G we maintain that, ‘Promises made… promises kept’ and we intend to keep our promise to the Nigerian people to continue to develop youths’ sports.”

    Excitedly, mother to Nations Cup Gold medallist Peter Rufai, Mrs. Ifeoma Emeter said she is happy that Procter and Gamble has promised to develop sporting facilities and young athletes in Nigeria “I am so for the promise the made to children and the love they have for mothers. May God bless Procter and Gamble. I am very proud of my son and most especially for seeing what he has become today; he has made me proud and the family.”

  • ‘We’re committed to welfare’

    ‘We’re committed to welfare’

    Chairman of Iba Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, Hon. Princess Ramota Adedayo  Adeyeri–Oseni has reiterated her administration’s committment to the people’s welfare.

    She said the council leadership will step up its infrastructural upgrade as well as ensure that residents have improved healthcare this year.

    Adeyeri-Oseni added that pupils will also enjoy better educational facilities.

    She was speaking at the presentation of the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the legislative arm of the council at Iba, its headquarters.

    The council chief said the Bill, tagged “Budget of Rehabilitation”, focuses on socio-economic development.

    Adeyeri-Oseni promised to provide more infrastructural facilities for the people and leave a lasting legacy.

    Her administration proposing a budget sum of N2, 387,000,000, with which it aims to improve the people’s welfare through infrastructure and enhanced education and healthcare services.

    The council boss said that an additional Area Office has been created in Iba to complement the two existing ones in Mebamu and Okoko in revenue generation.

    “It is the hope and wish of this administration  to uplift the living standard of our people by upgrading  and rehabilitating some roads, construction of drainages and  culverts, provision of educational as well as health facilities while also taking into consideration adequate and conducive sanitation of the environment,” Adeyeri–Oseni said.

  • Big stars must be committed — Keshi

    Big stars must be committed — Keshi

    Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, has explained why he opted to exclude some of the nation’s established stars from the 2013 Afcon squad.

    Keshi, 51, was on the football magazine show, Monday Night Football on SuperSport and gave detailed explanation on his decision to leave out the like of Peter Odemwingie, Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche, Taye Taiwo and Yakubu Aiyegbeni among others.

    He hinged his stance on attitudinal problems with the superstars. Keshi was also specific in explaining the Africa Cup of Nations blackout for Obafemi and Odemwingie.

    “If you have one or two who do not get along, whether they are superstars or not, the team will fall apart. We can manage some of these players with a little bit of character problems, but when it comes to a long period of time, that’s difficult.

    “Odemwingie is a very good player, a player I will love to have in the team, but he wants to do what he wants to do. We talked on the phone, and I told him what I wanted from him, but he had his own notion and I said ‘for now I will skip you.’

    “We decided not to take some of these superstars to the Nations Cup because it is (a competition with) a long period of time and for the long period of time, you need characters who go together. Martins was not ready for the Cup of Nations. But he is still part of the group. If his name is in the next call-up, if he wants to come, we will see how it goes,” Keshi said.

    However, Keshi was full of praises for Newcastle United striker, Shola Ameobi, who did not turn up for the AFCON despite being named in the pre-tournament provisional squad.

    Keshi also held up his hand in defence of Ameobi missing the AFCON due to a clause in his contract.

    “Honestly, I missed Shola Ameobi. In our game against Venezuela, he showed a lot of presence in the locker room, and he came in with this coaching ability and togetherness. Whenever he talked to the boys they always listened. And you could imagine that this was the first time he was coming.

    “That was what I was looking for on the pitch. A leader in somebody who could talk for me on the pitch, because I know what I did as a captain on the pitch. He was really ready to come, but what was on his contract denied him from coming,” said the former Mali and Togo coach.

    The Nigerian manager then broke off to talk on his 14 years as captain of the men’s national team, adding that he was “not bigger than Nigeria” in spite of being the skipper.

    “In the national team, where I was captain for 14 years, you are nothing but a figure in the team, you are not bigger than Nigeria. If you are not ready to give the green and white shirt the due respect, you are walking out of my team,” warned Keshi.

  • Fed Govt committed to trans Saharan roads

    The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the realisation of the Trans Saharan Road, which transverses six African countries –– Algeria, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Tunisia.

    The Minister of State for Works, Mr. Bashir Yuguda, said this when he received the Secretary-General of the Trans Saharan Road Liaison Committee, Mr. Ayadi Mohammed.

    He said the road is a big project which when realised, would promote culture, trade and unity in Africa.

    Yuguda assured of the support and representation of Nigeria in the committee and pledged the willingness of the country to provide a back-up for the project.

    The minister said Nigeria had carried out a feasibility study on the road to Chad Republic, requiring a technical session between the two countries.

    He added that Nigeria has over 1,000 kilometres of the Trans Saharan Road, which spread from Lagos to Kaduna, then Kano through Katsina to Jibiya in Niger State.

    Mr. Mohammed had earlier expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded his team and briefed the minister on the activities of the committee.

  • Only committed players should go to South Africa

    Only committed players should go to South Africa

    Ex-international, Felix Owolabi (MON) has urged Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to jettison sentiment in selecting players for the 2013 African Cup of Nation slated for January 19 in South Africa.

    22 home-based players had already been called for camping in Abuja in preparation for the African showpiece while Big Boss is expected to name the foreign-based players that will be invited for the team’s camp in Faro, Portugal next week Tuesday.

    Owolabi, who was part of the squad that won the first Nation Cup for the country in 1980, stressed that only devoted players should make the final list.

    “Keshi would do Nigeria a good job if he picks players who are ready to don out a green white jersey to represent this nation very well at the next African Cup of Nations in South Africa,” he said.

    The former IICC FC of Ibadan left back, has therefore called on Nigerians to pray for the team’s success and back any players pick by Keshi at the end of the day.

    “It is my prayer that anybody picked at the end of the day to represent Nigeria should be our collective resolve to pray that Nigeria does well and these boys represent us well and we pray for them,” he added.

  • I’m committed to the people, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has reiterated his administration’s commitment to provide purposeful and visionary leadership.

    In a statement marking the administration’s second anniversary, Aregbesola said the government’s initiatives have brought hope to the people.

    He said the government has achieved great feats in education, agriculture, infrastructure, urban renewal and environmental sanitation, health care delivery, security, tourism and job creation.

    Aregbesola said there is a wide gap between his administration and the immediate-past government.

    He said: “Our determination to change the face of education is paying off noticeably as illustrated by the emerging infrastructure in schools, the development of the new school curriculum, the substantially increased funding of schools and innovative projects, such as tablets of knowledge, school uniforms and school feeding programmes, among others.

    “On agriculture, the people have come to embrace our strategic transformation towards massive food production, with loans to farmers, assistance towards the formation of more productive cooperative societies and the introduction of the scientific approach to animal and crop production.

    “The acquisition of land for agricultural purposes and training of young farmers in the use of modern methods to make farming more attractive and lucrative have all shown that the current administration has changed the game towards wealth creation.

    “The State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) has not only taken thousands of our youths off the streets, it has compelled the administration to look more inwards towards ensuring that those who exit the scheme after two years do not return home unemployed.

    “Apart from those who have been absorbed into the state’s civil service and teaching, many other schemes have been established to cater for those who wish to be self-employed in fish farming, bee farming, red-brick making, animal production, vocational trainings, such as the OYESTECH scheme and other new areas with promises of huge returns on investment in no distant future.”

    On roads, Aregbesola said: “We are opening up roads to enhance trade and consequently economic prosperity. The ongoing projects on intra-city roads across the state are meant to make life more meaningful for our people.

    “The ambitious Gbongan-Orile-Owu to Ijebu Igbo Road in Ogun State; the Osogbo-Ikirun-towards the Kwara State boundary road projects and other major roads projects are there for everybody to see with the advanced stages of works.

    “Our administration is poised to continue a drive for massive transformation in all sectors.”

     

  • Ikuforiji: be more committed

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji has urged Muslims to be more obedient and dedicated in the service to God and humanity.

    Ikuforiji, who gave the admonition in his message, by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Adebayo, also congratulated Muslims.

    He urged them to emulate Prophet Ibrahim by being resolute and committed, even when faced with adversity.

    “We have to continue to emulate Prophet Ibrahim for that wonderful service he rendered to his Creator, by offering his only son as a sacrifice. We continue to be obedient, dedicated and committed in our relationship with the Almighty God, our creator, the governments and people around us.

    “This should also reflect in all Muslims’ positive attitude to all the laws passed by the legislature.