The Nation Newspaper

Tag: group

  • Group advocates clean, safe environment

    The National President, Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Ubina Ubi, has advised residents of the Federal Capital Territory to protect the environment. This, he said, they could do by not throwing away polythene bags, cans and other disused materials that are hazardous to the environment indiscriminately.

    Littering the environment with waste materials, he said, could lead to flooding due to blocking the drainage with them.

    Ubi, who spoke at a briefing in Abuja, said polythene bags when not properly discarded leads to environmental degradation.

    “Empty sachet water polythene bags do not have to end up in the streets or refuse dump or the neighbourhood. We can recycle them to generate jobs for our youths. Let our youths engage in the recycling of these bags as it obtains in other countries.

    “Government should enforce environmental laws on the use of polythene.  Most of our streets are littered with polythene bags and water cans. They can cause environmental degradation,” he said.

    He called on the media to help in mobilising and sensitising Nigerians on the need to imbibe the virtue of environmental friendliness.

  • Group hails philanthropist

    Members of the Southeast National Youth Awareness have hailed Prince Arthur Eze for his philanthropic gestures not only in the Southeast, but also in the country.

    The coordinator of the group, Chief Chukwuemeka Orjiako, told The Nation at the weekend in Awka that other Igbo sons and daughters should emulate the man.

    Orjiako, who is also the founder, Chukwuemeka Orjiakor Foundation, said Eze had shown that the plight of the needy and the less privileged touched him.

    He said he set up his  foundation to help the poor.

  • Group seeks grazing land for nomads

    The Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Abia chapter has urged the government to provide pasture for cattle rearers to save the lives of people in the communities.

    The CAN Chairman, Bishop Goddy Okafor, made the call in Aba.

    Okafor observed that the lack of grazing lands had led to deadly clashes between nomads and their host communities, and causing road accidents on the highways due to their quest for pasture.

    He cited the killing by cow on Sunday morning of a male resident of Aba on his way to church.

    He called for concerted efforts by Federal and state governments to prevent such incidents that create unnecessary losses, by ensuring cattle rearers were not allowed to move from place to place, especially in cities.

    The CAN chair noted that in civilised climes, cattle owners no longer moved them around but kept them in well equipped ranches.

    He said providing grazing lands would help protect cattle from exposure to diseases as well as prevent the frequent clashes between farmers and pastoralists.

     

  • Group to hold rally for the blind

    To stem discrimination against visually-impaired persons, the Nigerian Society for the Blind (NSB) is set to mark its 9th White Cane Day awareness in Lagos with the theme: Fitness walk for sight.

    Speaking at a press briefing held last Monday at NSB Vocational Training Centre in Oshodi, the NSB chairperson, Mrs Biola Agbaje, said the walk was aimed at sensitising the public on the need to accord respect to the visually impaired and importance of the use of the white cane for the mobility of the blind.

    The use of a white cane, Agbaje said, is a symbol that a visually-impaired person is approaching, noting that no matter how trained they are, it is always difficult for the visually-impaired people to move around. “This is why they need our help and assistance in finding their way around,” she said.

    She also said the common practice that a visually-active person must be the one to take the visually-impaired around should be over.

    Agbaje, who was represented by the chairman, Organising Committee of the White Cane Day and Executive Council Member of the NSB, Dr. Olu Falomo, said that the white cane had been accepted globally as a symbol of the visually-impaired, adding that the awareness was to sensitise the public on the significance of the material.

    She said the event would encourage visually-impaired citizens to use the white cane, stating that in other climes, people with the same sight condition use trained dogs to move around.

    She, however, stressed that the event would be an avenue to keep participants fit, especially people who have obesity.

    Wife of former Lagos State Governor, Mrs Obafunmilayo Johnson, will lead the rally scheduled to hold on Saturday from 7am to 10am from the National Stadium in Surulere to Costain Roundabout and back to the stadium.

  • Buhari group slams Babatope

    Buhari group slams Babatope

    A political group, the Grassroots for Muhammadu Buhari, has condemned comments by a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, that “Ekiti people rejected Governor Kayode Fayemi and that the Ekiti State election was the beginning of the recapture of the Southwest by his party”.

    In a statement by its National Chairman, Remi Oyebamiji, the group also faulted Babatope’s claim that Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola lacks the character of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    It said the claims betray the integrity of a man once known as a progressive.

    The group said the truth about the June 21 Ekiti State governorship election would soon be unveiled.

    It said Ekiti people could not have voted against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in view of Fayemi’s “transformation of the state”.

    According to the group, Babatope no longer has a progressive mind since he joined the conservatives during the late General Sanni Abacha’s regime.

    It said: “Babatope has eaten the pie of untruth from the days of his romance with the late Gen. Abacha’s regime. He identified himself with the PDP, a place where he sits comfortably as a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman, Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology – a reward for his betrayal of what he made people to believe he stood for many years ago.

    “Babatope belongs to Osun State where Aregbesola has recorded great achievements that have placed the state on the global mention and acclaim.”

    The group urged Babatope to have a rethink and return to “a position of equity, truthfulness, strong character and courage”.

  • Group urges new police chief

    Group urges new police chief

    The new Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has been urged to be a team player by carrying along all stakeholders to tackle security challenges in the country.

    The Police Assistance Committee (PAC), which gave the advice while hailing the emergence of the police chief, also assured him of its total support.

    The committee’s Director General, Dr. Martins Oni, said the Abba is a tested officer who has distinguished himself in various capacities in the force, adding: “We are confident that Abba will bring to the fore, the wealth of experience he has garnered over the years, to build on the achievements of his predecessor and thus improve the fortunes of the force by injecting new ideas at confronting the plethora of security challenges threatening the corporate existence of the nation”

    The group expressed the hope that his tenure would ensure robust relationship with the members of other security agencies, the public and the corporate bodies to fight the festering insurgency in the country.

  • Group donates to the less-privileged

    Group donates to the less-privileged

    The joy of inmates of the City of Refuge Orphanage, Durumi Abuja knew no bounds as a pro-democracy group presented to them gifts when they paid them a visit.

    The group said the choice of celebrating the day with the orphans was to bring the attention of affluent Nigerians to the plight of the less-privileged in the society.

    The orphanage has 15 children whose ages ranged between one day and 15 years.

    According to the National Coordinator of Grassroots Campaign for Goodluck, Mohammed Lawal Rabana, visiting the orphanage was to achieve a dual purpose of bringing succour to the home as well as send message of peace to the Nigerian youths as 2015 general elections approach.

    He said: “People might wonder what the connection between a pro-democracy group and the orphanage is. Well, the fact is that whatever we are, we should not forget that we have hundreds of less-privileged children around us that we can lend helping hands to.

    “Being a political group, we believed that our presence here would bring some sort of attention to this home in particular and such institutions around the country. Any form of assistance cannot be too little for these children that need all the love they can get.

    “We want to use this visit to also lend a voice to the campaign for all Nigerian children to be in school. Having our children in school is the only means of assuring the future of this country. If efforts are not made to put most of them in school, we will end up having huge number of uneducated and uninformed youths in the future.”

    The group that was mobilising support for the return of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term also emphasised the need for peace as the 2015 general elections draw closer.

    Rabana said the Nigerian youths must be informed of the consequences of being used as tool for violence and destruction during the electioneering period.

    “We also want to use this platform to preach peace and tell our teeming youths across the country to be as careful as possible as 2015 approaches.

    “They should not allow themselves to be used as tools for violence and destruction because the youth are the target of unscrupulous politicians.

    “Our youths must be told that the future of the country should be paramount in their minds at all times and should revisit being used to scuttle that future. What we want every Nigerian to know is that it is only God that gives power to whom He pleases.

    “With that in mind, election should not be a do-or-die affair,” he added.

    In appreciation of the several packets and bags of household items that were presented to the children, the representative of the home, Mrs. Edwin Abraham said the gesture would go a long way in enhancing the well-beings of the children.

    “The happiness and excitement exhibited by the children showed how appreciative we are of this kind gesture of yours,” she said.

    While promising to put the materials to judicious use, Abraham urged other well-meaning Nigerians to render assistance to the home in whatever form.

  • Christian group supports Ikuforiji’s gov aspiration

    A religious organisation, Christian Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC), has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of Lagos State Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, to govern the state in 2015.

    The Chairman of the Christian anti-corruption body, Bishop (Dr) Francis Shopekan, disclosed this at the weekend while presenting the outstanding leaders award to the Speaker in his Alausa Ikeja office.

    Shopekan, who came with the executive members of the group, said: “We have been reliably informed that you want to be governor of the state; we will like to be one of those who will give you support for this project.”

    He explained that having observed the Speaker and how he has been leading the House of Assembly for a long time, he said: “You are a good man, contrary to the negative impression some people have about you.”

    The award, according to Shopekan, “is being given to you after you have been duly nominated and recommended by well-meaning people in the society.

    “We want you to know that we have carefully followed your track record, works and all activities since you resumed office as Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly.”

    He argued that Ikuforiji’s “untainted integrity, fight for good governance, commitment to the development of the Lagos State and Nigeria and your exemplary leadership qualities, distinguished you as the best man for this award.”

    Ikuforiji expressed his profound appreciation to the organisation for the award.

    He said that the Assembly’s commitment to selfless service and good governance stemmed from the consciousness that Lagos State is a special place and as such deserves excellent treatment.

  • Bomb Blast: Group commends doctors for patriotism

    Bomb Blast: Group commends doctors for patriotism

    A non governmental organization (NGO), under the aegis of Health Initiative Forum (HIF), yesterday in Kano, commended Resident Doctors in Kano and Kaduna states who voluntarily went back to work following the bomb blasts that rocked the two ancient cities.

    It will be recaled that the Resident Doctors Association of Nigeria had on July 1 embarked on strike to press home their demands to the government.

    Moved by the level of casualties recorded during the bomb attacks, the doctors decided to temporarily call off the strike for the sake of the blast victims.

    HIF praised the show of patriotism on the part of the professionals, adding that their swift reactions saved many lives that were having life threatening injuries.

    Chairman of the group, Alhaji Bala Danladi, during a chat with reporters, observed the human feeling in the hearts of the doctors that participated in the rescue operations and their leadership in the affected states.

    “Despite their perennial disagreement with the Federal Government, these doctors believe that the strike action should not stop them from showing love to Nigerians under such emergency situations.

    “We also believe that Nigerian doctors are not enemies of Nigerians as some elements were trying hard to make us believe. They love us and they still believe with the government genuine intervention in the health sector many things would improve according to international best practices,” he stated.

    While commending the widely circulated statement of the President of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), Dr Jibril Abdullahi, immediately after the happening of Kaduna blasts, the group urged federal government to make a second thought in her stand on the doctors’ demands.

    The group also said that they were impressed by the immediate action taken by the Kano branch chairman of NARD, Dr. Shamsudeen Mashi, who decided to call off the strike for the sake hapless Nigerians who were involved in the terror attack.

    According to Danladi, “the group learnt that immediately after the incidence of the New Road motor park, the Kano branch chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Sharfuddeen Mashi, confirmed to journalists that doctors were directed to go to the hospital and rescue victims.

    “This is a patriotic posture to the core from the part of doctors. We should therefore request government to also genuinely understand the critical work of our dear doctors in the country. Anything short of heeding to doctors’ demands will not augur well for the health sector in the country.

    “It is from the part of the government that you come to reluctant postulations in terms of respecting and fulfilling provisions of agreements reached by the two parties.”

  • Group mobilises for protest in US against Jonathan

    Group mobilises for protest in US against Jonathan

    A group yesterday called on Nigerians in Diaspora to prepare for a protest against President Goodluck Jonathan in Washington DC.

    The Executive Director, Gatekeepers Foundation, Blessing Agbomhere, made the call in a statement in Abuja.

    Agbomhere said the protest became necessary due to the inability of the  Jonathan’s administration to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.

    He said the protest was meant to demand immediate rescue of the over 200 girls in Boko Haram’s captivity since April and the recovery of the $20billion oil revenue unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    The statement, entitled: “President Goodluck’s visit to the US: A call for massive protests”, reads in part: “This is calling on all patriotic Nigerians and Gatekeepers Foundation Volunteers in the United State of America with committed interest in the growth and development of our country to come out enmasse to protest rallies holding in Washington DC to demand that President Goodluck Jonathan Bring Back Our Girls Alive and bring back our US$20billion or resign.

    “The protest has become necessary as a result of the insincerity of the Jonathan-led government in providing security of lives and property in the country, while deliberately perpetuating and protecting corruption and corrupt government officials.

    “Therefore, we call on Nigerians in Diaspora, especially in the US, to come out with their placards to occupy the streets of Washington DC until President Goodluck is ready to Bring Back Our Girls Alive and Our US$20 Billion or resign.”