The Nation Newspaper

Tag: December

  • 2017 Miss Nigeria to be crowned in December

    2017 Miss Nigeria to be crowned in December

    After rigorous screenings held in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Lagos, who wears the 2017 Miss Nigeria crown?

    This will be made known on Thursday, December 21, at the grand finale when the new queen will be crowned at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, after 37 semi-finalists will be announced in a special Instagram Live Session this week.

    The audition started at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on November 7, with an impressive turn out of contestants from the Northern region and Port Harcourt was the second state the audition took place on Thursday November 9 to receive contestants from the South-South and the South-East region at the Echelon Heights Hotel.

    The week-long process was capped with a two-day bout of the finest and most intelligent ladies in the South-West region auditioning for a chance to be the next queen at the Times Multimedia Lagos headquarters on November 11-12.

    According to the organisers, it was quite an excellent turnout with hundreds of young ladies looking forward to becoming Miss Nigeria 2017. The said it was an all-encompassing audition that catered to the physical and mental needs of the contestants.

    “From personal photography sessions from Studio 24 using cool photo props, there were also monopoly games and passion project activities to keep the ladies entertained.”

    “This is a commitment that has resonated through the years in our work with young women who have participated in the pageant and gone on to become role models for other Nigerian women. It therefore remains our driving motivation this year to continue to provide young women with a platform to achieve the things they are most passionate about. Therefore, our focus is not on physical appearance alone, but on women who are intelligent, socially responsible, and committed to making a difference in our country”, said the CEO Times Multimedia, Enyinne Owunwanne.

    The 2017 edition will mark the 60th anniversary of the Miss Nigeria pageant which began in 1957 and the organisers said they are still committed to empowering Nigeria’s young women beyond beauty.

    The judges were: George Okoro (photographer and Lifestyle Magazine publisher), Adama Indimi (CEO Reign by Adama Lashes), Ogugua Okonkwo (CEO Style Temple) and Andy Ogbechei (Creative Director, A-Squared Network), Owunwanne was joined by two former contestants from Miss Nigeria 2016 – Anna Terna (Miss Benue) and Bozimo Blessing Ebi (Miss Borno) as guest judges.

  • Expect made-in-Ogoja rice by December, says Ayade

    Expect made-in-Ogoja rice by December, says Ayade

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has promised that the ultra-modern rice mill under construction in Ogoja Local Government Area will roll out rice by December.

    Ayade spoke shortly on arrival from his overseas at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, yesterday.

    He said: “Part of my trip itinerary was to inspect the manufacturing process of the rice mill which is the most sophisticated and digitalized facility you can ever find. It is the latest technology in rice processing in the world today.

    ”Payment has already been made and we are awaiting delivery by end of October while installation will commence as soon as the equipment arrives. Hopefully, Cross River State will have it own home grown, milled and ready for consumption rice by December.”

    Ayade, who lauded the foresight of President Muhammadu Buhari for his aggressive agricultural policy, added: “I agree with Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari that we must think agriculture which is now yielding positive fruits across the country.”

    Ayade went on: “Our major focus is on agriculture, solid minerals and to a lesser extent oil and gas, adding that “In Cross River State we had seen this coming which was why we set up food bank, cotton cultivation with the focus to support our garment factory as a strategy for backward integration. We must find any means to earn money other than oil and gas.

    “I will use this opportunity to call on Cross Riverians to as a matter of urgency, start arranging for their own farms. You must own a farm because if everyone owns a hectare or two, the impact on food supply will be humongous.”

    He said the government intends “to introduce the Israeli farming system where everyone owns a farm and what government will do is to harvest and process those proceeds for the benefit of everyone. We need massive supply of corn and we are making arrangement to introduce modern corn farming techniques that will require all hands to be on deck as farmers to achieve this.

    ”For our cocoa processing  plant which is being handled by a firm in Switzerland, the manufacturing has reached 80 percent completion. I’m talking about all the equipment required for cocoa processing including dryer. We are in addition, setting aside 100 hectares of land dedicated for the cultivation of a new breed of cocoa to support the proposed cocoa processing plant as well as provide us cocoa bags in readiness for export.”

  • Recession will end before December, says Fed Govt

    Recession will end before December, says Fed Govt

    Nigerians got yesterday some cheery news – the recession that has kept everyone panting will end before the year runs out.

    The yet to be passed 2017 Budget has been structured to achieve the goal, Budget and Planning Minister Udoma Udo Udoma told State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    He said: “Yes, we are determine, to get the economy out of the recession before the end of this year. And the 2017 budget is structured to do just that.

    “So that is why we are anxious to get the budget passed so that we can begin the implementation and begin to take all the steps we need to get the economy out of recession.”

    The ministry briefed the Council on the National Bureau of Statistics Third Quarter GDP Report and the full report on 2016.

    “I also informed council of the release of the Economic Recovery Growth Plan which is already on the website of the ministry of budget and National Planning as well as the Budget Office,” Udoma said, adding:

    “With regards to the NBS report, as you are aware, the fourth quarter of the economy contracted by 1.3 per cent, which is lower level of contraction than the previous year and which indicates that we are already turning and we are beginning to recover even though we are still in recession.

    “And the overall result was better than what many people projected. The IMF report had thought the GDP for 2016 was going to be -1.8 per cent and it turned out -1.5, so that’s better than expected but we are not out of the woods.

    “It is encouraging but we have to do and continue to do more to make sure that we get the economy out of the recession this year.

    “So we are encouraged but we are even more energised to put in more effort in agriculture, which is doing very well to do even better. To put in more efforts in solid minerals to make sure that our infrastructure is revamped because that is what will stimulate our economy, if we continue in this way.”

    Udoma went on: “You saw yesterday the acting president went to break ground for the railway from Lagos to Ibadan all the way to Kano.  As you know, the economic recovery and growth plan focuses on three objectives; one is restoring growth and that is what we are determined to do.

    “Two, inviting our people; our people are our greatest resource and three, building a competitive economy because ultimately the economy cannot do well unless it is competitive.

    “And as you know the five priority areas that we have are one, stabilising the micro economic environment. Two, achieving agriculture and food security. Three, ensuring energy sufficiency – power as well as petroleum products. Four, improving transportation infrastructure and five, driving industrialisation, focusing on small and medium scale enterprises. So we are determined with this plan to make this economy great again. We are determined by the end of the plan to move from the negative growth that we experienced in 2016 to the growth rate of 7 per cent by 2020.”

  • That December deadline on Boko Haram

    SIR: Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Nigerian Chief of Army Staff on Sunday December 4, urged the gallant Nigerian Army to embark on the final offensive action and a comprehensive sweep of the operational theatre in the North-east with a view to ending the war against Boko Haram on a high note.

    On a similar note, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday December 6, while speaking at a panel of Heads of State in Dakar, Senegal, at the Third Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, assured the international community that the security situation in Nigeria has improved significantly – thus the end of Boko Haram terrorists was in sight. The two generals are not mincing their words; it is a show of political will from the political class and determination from the Nigerian Army to defeat the terrorists.

    While some people have questioned the feasibility of completely clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorist in the northeast by December, majority of the people in the northeast have confidence in General Buratai; his gallant officers and President Buhari’s political will to win the war against Boko Haram. They are very happy with the level of success recorded by the military so far. The people of the northeast are experiencing the difference between the former administration’s sloppy handling of the war and the doggedness and commitment being shown by the Buhari government.

    Anyone who comes to the North-east now will see the obvious resolve of the Nigerian army to win the war; confidence on the faces of the soldiers on ground. The number of war planes and their activities in skies especially from Yola airport will certainly tell any doubting Thomases that Buratai and his men are matching President Buhari’s words with action.

    Now Boko Haram is being chased out of villages and their camps in bushes, unlike before when they were capturing big towns and annexing local government areas and renaming them. Boko Haram is no longer holding a single territory in the 774 LGAs in Nigeria. This is a sweet thing to hear and every Nigerian should give Buratai and his men a pat on the back.

    The people of the northeast are with Buratai, because they now see the Nigerian soldiers are very confident; fully kitted; well-armed and tackling Boko Haram head on. The people of the Northeast are appreciative of Buratai’s approach to the war- because now, the rights of people and their humanity are always protected by the soldiers while the war rages on. People now see the military as their shield and protectors unlike before when they feared both Boko Haram and the military.

    Buratai and his men have a resolve to clear remnants of Boko Haram by December, the people of the North-east are happy and have strong confidence in Buratai, the feet on the ground and the commander-in-chief.

     

    • Zayyad I. Muhammad,

    Jimeta, Adamawa State.

  • Sotayo gears up for ‘December to Remember’

    Hollywood actress, Tayo Sobola, better known as Sotayo, has announced plans to hold a 5-in-1 grand event tagged ‘December to Remember’.

    An all-white affair, the actress disclosed that ‘December to Remember’ is designed to celebrate her production outfit, Sotee Entertainment’s 1st Anniversary, her birthday which is coming up on December 28, an exhibition of movies she produced in the last one year, the unveiling of her film academy as well as end-of-the-year party for her staff, family and friends.

    Scheduled to hold on December 30, 2016 at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, the actress revealed that the event will be attended by top notch personalities.

    On flagging off of her own film academy, the Bella actress noted that she has always received requests from numerous young people who want to train under her but there had been no time to attend to everyone.

    “So, I discussed this with some of my industry seniors like Antar Laniyan who showed interest and promised to support the project. That was why we decided to put a film academy together. Aside this, I have a charity project I run and I do have lots of blind kids that are very talented that need a platform to showcase their talents,” she said.

  • “Pay salaries before Christmas’’ – Gov. Ugwuanyi directs council chairmen

    “Pay salaries before Christmas’’ – Gov. Ugwuanyi directs council chairmen

    Governor. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has directed the chairmen of the 17 local government areas in the state to pay full salaries of their workers before Christmas.

    He gave the directive at the inauguration of the United Enugu Women for Gburugburu on Saturday in Enugu.

    The governor said the directive was in line with the premium his administration placed on the welfare of public servants.

    Ugwuanyi said that the achievements his administration had recorded so far were by providence and prudent management of the state’s lean resources.

    The governor thanked the women of the state for their support and continuous prayers for the success of the administration, describing them as “pathfinders’’ in the quest for good governance in the state.

    “In Enugu State, God is in charge of its affairs.

    “I am just a mere instrument in the hands of God for the progress of the state,’’ Ugwuanyi said.

    He, however, declared that “the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is one indivisible family’’.

    The governor also thanked all the members of PDP for what he called their “unprecedented support” to his administration.

    Earlier, the state co-coordinator of the organisation, Mrs Josephine Nwokedike, had disclosed that the body was established to “create political consciousness among the women of the state.

    The establishment, she added, was to ensure their active involvement in the scheme of things’’.

    In an address, the state Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, lauded Ugwuanyi for his immense respect and commitment toward the progress of Enugu women.

    Ezeilo described the governor as a “God-sent, visionary, humble and women-friendly governor’’.

    She commended the women for their contributions to the development of the state and called on them to show more commitment to the organisation’s noble objectives. (NAN)

  • Senator’s scholarship’s second phase to begin December

    The second phase of Senator Theodore Orji’s annual scholarship scheme for Abia Central Senatorial District will hold in December.

    It is expected that 240 undergraduates will benefit from the scholarship.

    The scheme, which started last year, had 60 lucky indigent undergraduates, comprising 10 from each of the six local government areas: Abia Central–Isiala-Ngwa North/South; Osisioma, Umuahia North/South and Ikwuano, as beneficiaries.

    A statement by his Senior Media Adviser, Don Norman Obinna, urged interested indigent undergraduates in the zone to apply for the scholarship to make their education easier.

    The statement reads: “The former governor said the organisers of the scholarship scheme will still adopt the same method used last year to ensure balance. This will help to secure the futures of intelligent students from poor backgrounds in our Education sector, that is underfunded.”

  • Abia PDP prepares for December council poll

    The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun preparations for the chairmanship and councillorship elections in the 17 local government areas of the state.

    The ruling party in the state held the congresses for its councillorship candidates and set up a three-man ad hoc delegate in each of the 292 electoral wards in the state.

    Our reporter, who visited the wards, said the party conducted a peaceful congress in which most of the wards harmonised their lists and chose their candidates.

    But in Aba South, some people said the exercise was a sham because they were allegedly schemed out.

    A chairmanship candidate for Aba South and former chairman of the local government area, who spoke in confidence, said the exercise did not hold in the area.

    At Abayi Ward 1 in Obingwa Local Government Area, voting materials had not been brought to the polling unit when our reporter got there at 1.46 p.m.

    Voters and candidates were waiting for the materials to arrive.

    A councillorship candidate, Mrs Amba Ihejirika, accused some party members of planning to rig the congress.

    She warned against such move.

    At the council’s headquarters, materials were being shared at 4 p.m. At Umuola Ward 8 in Aba North Local Government Area, the congress was peaceful and the results announced.

    The same happened at Sand and Gravel Ward at Ogbor Hill area of the local government.

    At Okporo and Igbere communities in Abia North, the congresses were also peaceful.

     

     

  • Ambode gives contractor December deadline on road projects

    Ambode gives contractor December deadline on road projects

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered contractors working on multi-faceted expansion projects at the ever busy Berger Bus Stop on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to work day and night to ensure completion by December.

    He spoke at the weekend when he carried out extensive  inspection of on-going projects across the state.

    The governor said the directive became imperative in view of the strategic importance of the axis being the major gateway to the state.

    The expansion projects at Berger include the construction of about 700 metres slip road through which traffic outward Lagos-Ibadan Expressway can connect Omole Phase Two, Magodo Phase One and Olowoora.

    The road, which was designed with drainage channels, sidewalks and street light, is about six metres wide and can conveniently accommodate two vehicles at a time.

    Apart from the pedestrian bridge, which has been completed, there are also expanded lay-bys and reservation areas at both sides of the Berger Bus Stop to facilitate easy pulling off of commercial and private vehicles from the main expressway.

    Massive road improvement, construction of lay-by and reservation projects are equally on-going under the bridge.

    Ambode, who was accompanied by his top officials, also ordered the construction of iron barricade under the newly completed pedestrian bridge to compel usage so as to achieve its main purpose of saving lives and facilitating free flow of traffic.

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Ganiyu Johnson, who briefed the governor on the work done so far on the Berger projects, said the projects, upon completion, will give Berger a new befitting look and ensure permanent removal of gridlock hitherto associated with the area.

    “The idea is that we should have a reservation area for our commercial buses and also a reservation area on top. In the phase one of it, we have on both sides about 200 metres of reservation area. For instance, vehicles coming from upland and wanting to discharge passengers have been accommodated as we have cleared the road further down and we have about three to four base underneath the bridge.

    “We have also improved Wakati Adura, Ijaye Road and Isheri Road in such a way that there will not be any traffic gridlock anymore by the time we complete this project and there will be a free flow of traffic around the whole place. We are also moving the roundabout at PWC forward a little bit to Wakati Adura area and channelise the place just to improve traffic flow,” Johnson said.

    The governor also inspected the newly completed lay-by at Car Wash Bus Stop in Oworonsoki, which made it a total of four modern lay-bys constructed in Oworonsoki axis by the Ambode administration.

    Ambode inspected the on-going construction of 1.65-kilometre slip road from Olopomeji in Oworonsoki to Ifako with under pass through which vehicles can make U-turn back to either Lagos Island or Oshodi through Gbagada and others.

  • Naira to exchange for N390/$ by December, says RenCap

    Naira to exchange for N390/$ by December, says RenCap

    •Capital flow expectations dampened

    The woes of the naira will worsen in the coming months, with the local currency expected to exchange for N390 to dollar by year-end, report by Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an international investment and research firm, has said.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday sold $7 million at N283 to the dollar on the interbank currency market, a trader at a major commercial bank disclosed.

    Traders said the local units of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Eni and Addax sold a combined $37.2 million through commercial banks to petrol importers while the interbank market traded a total of $60 million volume, with the naira quoted at 283 to the dollar.

    But RenCap’s Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Economist Yvonne Mhango, said the liberalisation of forex markets on by the CBN led to positive sentiment in the equities market, with banks up by nine per cent since the plan was announced on June 15 .

    However, she said sentiment risks being dampened by concerns around Brexit and the implications for the naira, as capital inflows may not materialise as rapidly as the CBN may have expected. “We have used a N285/$ exchange rate in updating our models, but the risk is to the downside, and we see N390/$ by end of this year,” she said in a report titled: ‘Nigerian banks: Life after ‘40’, released yesterday.

    For the banks, RenCap said it expects real loan growth to be minimal, but given that 46 per cent of sector loans were in forex in banks’ 2015 accounts, it estimates nominal credit growth post depreciation could end the year at 23 per cent on average.

    According to RenCap, the more than 40 per cent naira depreciation and the liberalisation of forex markets; and the rise in interest rates could improve sector earnings in the near term, global risk sentiment will be key to price performance and capital inflows.

    “We have updated our forecasts and our top picks are now Guaranty Trust Bank (on fundamentals) and United Bank for Africa on upside potential. We maintain our buy ratings on Zenith and Access, and upgrade FBN Holdings and FCMB to hold from sell,” RenCap said.