The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kudos

  • Kudos on C/River superhighway

    SIR: Earlier this year, environmentalists stood up to vehemently challenge Prof. Ben Ayade, the Cross River governor’s decision to construct a Superhighway. It did not matter that the idea seemed beautiful on the surface – a 260 kilometre-long highway with anti-slip features, speed cameras and to crown it, high-speed internet connectivity while connecting other distant parts of the country in a short time.

    Debates here and there followed. The conflict was not on the basis of the proposed huge sum of $3.5 billion dollars to be spent for the construction; it was not the dispute over who should get the contract, foreign expatriate or indigenous companies? Neither was it the fear over how long the project will span entwined with the willingness (or not) of subsequent administration(s) to complete such pioneering project.

    The imminent degradation of Nigeria’s rich biodiversity, the destruction of her ancestral heritages, the possible extinction of wildlife like the Cross River gorillas and further threats to the diminishing population of chimpanzee, pangolin, and forest elephant were the issues that attracted international uproar over the construction of the superhighway.

    Records have it that the world’s largest decline of any subspecies of great ape recorded is the Cross River gorillas. Between 1995 and 2010 – 5 years, there was a 59 percent decline rate in their population. The Cross River superhighway could have in few months raised that percentage by another 41 per cent, thereby, causing this endemic species of Gorilla (with less than 300 left in the wild) to be entirely wiped off.

    The decision to reroute the highway is a big win considering that Nigeria is viewed as a ‘democratic’ country where people in power – federal and state take decisions with or without (mostly without) long-term consideration of the resultant effect of such actions or policies.

    The selfless act of passionate environment-conscious individuals, organizations and closely related agencies across the world that stood up and spoke loud enough concerning this issue is highly commendable.

    We sincerely thank President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Ayade for this. The decision to reroute the highway and to suspend plans for the superhighway’s 20km-wide buffer through some parts of the Cross River National park is a win for our irreplaceable wildlife, a win for posterity, a win for Nigeria’s biodiversity and a win for the world at large.

    Now that we know that the superhighway’s new route will ensure that Nigeria’s biodiversity is prioritized and that our fauna and flora entities will thrive undisturbed, we are super excited about the project and anticipate its realization.

     

    • Adebote ‘Seyifunmi

    Abuja.

  • Kudos for Obaseki for launching Nigeria’s first pavilion at Venice Art Biennale

    Kudos for Obaseki for launching Nigeria’s first pavilion at Venice Art Biennale

    The Presidency has hailed Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki for launching Nigeria’s first pavilion at the 57th Venice Art Biennale.

    Nigerian-born international journalist in the United States of America (U.S.A), Mr Tunji Lardner and Head of President Muhammadu Buhari’s digital communication team, Mr Tolu Ogunlesi, on Wednesday, sent commendations to the governor for promoting Nigeria’s image on the global scene.

    Tolu Ogunlesi, a Nigerian journalist, poet, photographer, fiction writer, blogger, one of the nation’s most active Twitter users, tweeted at Governor Obaseki: “Thank you Governor. Mighty proud of what you are doing.”

    This was in response to a tweet by the governor, on Wednesday, saying: “Yesterday, I commissioned Nigeria’s first ever pavilion at the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, which was the first time Nigeria would have a pavilion at the historical art biennale.”

    With over 331,000 twitter followers, Ogunlesi was appointed the role of Special Assistant on Digital/New Media by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 18, last year.

    Lardner, a Nigerian journalist and adjunct professor at the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York, said: “Your Excellency, I throwey salute o! Well done so far… We hail una o! God bless.”

    Lardner, the consultant for the United Nations (UN) on the Internet and the media in his reply to Governor Obaseki’s response on the commendation, added: “God bless and keep you and yours. We are proud of you and we are certain that Edo state will be advanced in quantum leap forward under your enlightened leadership”.

    Obaseki has been growing increasingly active on his social media accounts.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is among eminent Nigerians who have engaged the governor via social media.

     

  • Kudos for governor

    Kudos for governor

    The chairman of the Lagos State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has hailed Governor Akinwunmi Amobode for consistently finding solutions to some of the problems confronting the state, especially the issue of traffic gridlocks.

    Agbede said the union will henceforth begin to impound vehicles of commercial drivers caught violating traffic regulations.

    The NURTW boss explained that driving against traffic, picking passengers on highways, conductors hanging on the vehicles doors, using phones while driving and driving rickety vehicles are some of the offences contained in the traffic laws.

    Agbede explained that the council has been educating its members on why they should comply with the law.

    He said some disgruntled elements among drivers are still finding it difficult to comply.

    According to him, the union’s Task Force will be moving from parks too parks to ensure that drivers complied.

    Various forms of punishments, he said, will be melted to those caught violating traffic laws.

    The NURTW boss explained that the task force will also ensure that sales of alcohol and other hard drugs are banished from the parks.

     

  • Ambode gets kudos

    Ambode gets kudos

    Pressure groups in Lagos State have hailed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for making life better for residents.

    The groups – Awori Youth Vanguard (AYV); Lagosians Future Group (LFG); Asiwaju National Forum (ANF) and De-Fash Movement (DFM) – described Ambode as an exemplary leader, who places premium on people’s welfare.

    They spoke through their General Coordinator, Seyi Bamigbade, when they visited Aboru-Agbelekale-Abesan link road being built by the governor.

    The organisations praised Ambode for linking grassroots roads to ease traffic.

    They thanked the governor for making the environment conducive.

    Bamigbade hailed Ambode for his agenda of transforming Lagos to a mega city by wooing investors, eradicating noise and environmental pollution, restructuring the civil service for better performance, agricultural training for youths to make them self-reliant and  prompt payment of pension and gratuity

    He enjoined Lagosians to support the present administration to make Lagos the preferred state to live in.

  • Kudos for HIV/AIDS Coalition at officers’election

    A new set of officers, (co-chairs) have been inaugurated to run the affairs of the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NIBUCAA). The event took place at the Skyline Terrace of Oriental Hotel in Lagos. The dignitaries including Chief Executive Officers and policy-makers lighted up the night. They were all   dressed in national and international attires.

    They all came for one purpose-  to witness the inauguration of new co-chairs for  NIBUCAA.

    Dr Pascal Dozie, a co-chair in his opening address recalled how former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo gave,the private  sector a challenge15years ago to tackle HIV/AIDS which was ravaging the  entire workforce in East Africa.

    He said: “So we in NIBUCAA are the voice of the Nigerian private sector’s response to HIV and AIDS on the premise that businesses have collective leadership role to play in the wide multi-sectoral response to the pandemic and other related ailments.”His speech receivedinstant applause from the audience.

    Dozie  went further to  give  details: “I and some people were invited for a breakfast by the president in Abuja. On getting there from Lagos, we sat and when the then President, Chief Obasanjo walked in he said that was the food, all of us should start eating. That alone confused us more on what we were there for.  We were all apprehensive. After the breakfast, he asked me to come and sit on his right and another on the left and he then announced himself as the Chair of the coalition, which later was named NiBUCAA, and the other two of us as co-chairs. This is because when the news of HIV/AIDS, ravaging the Eastern part of Africa broke about 14 years ago, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was gripped with fear and sleepless nights. But as a retired military officer, he quickly overcame his emotions and firmly resolved to do something about the situation. That explained why he summoned some of us the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) in the private sector to a breakfast meeting on the 15th of February, 2003 and gave us a marching order to take up the fight against HIV/AIDS. That singular action has blossomed and is giving hope to many families and businesses. The deliberation that day led to the formation of NiBUCAA.”

    As the event unfolded that evening, Dr Dozie said the former president regretted not being present at the inauguration due to national assignment, “since I and the co-chair took over the task 14 years ago, our commitment was to support businesses to implement HIV/AIDS workplace programmes and to position members individually as well as collectively to contribute to the national response on HIV pandemic “NiBUCAA has 35 member companies with 29 active. It led the engagement of the Nigerian Business Community in the national health matters thereby enabling it to play a critical role towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Giving the success stories and achievements of NiBUCAA, acting Executive Secretary, Gbenga A Alabi identified Public-Private Partnership Project with Private Investors in Africa/German Technical Cooperation (PIA/GTZ) to implement Workplace Project in nine Companies between October 2007 to September 2010, USAID/ENHANSE Project to support institutionalisation of HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme and Policies in six SMEs in Kaduna and Lagos States, Sub-recipient to NACA on the Global Fund HIV/AIDS Round Five for two years- between years 2007 and 2009), Direct funding (cashless support) to conduct KABP studies in SMEs in Kaduna and Lagos states 2007 by Partners Against AIDS (PAA) Support, Wellness/Positive Living training Course  held in 2006/2007 and Greater involvement of People Living with AIDS (GIPA) orientation training (2006), Global Fund Partners Against AIDS (PAA) support made the tenure of the co-chairs exciting.

    Alabi said the challenges confronting the coalition include dwindling donor support, untimely/non payment of membership subscription fees, non partnership with NiBUCAA by some member companies, no sense of ownership of NiBUCAA by members, and poor documentation /record of NiBUCAA activities in some member organisations among other reasons.

    He appealed that for NiBUCAA to be more vibrant, there is an urgent need to buy in and support by CEOs of member companies, re-awaken members’ commitment and passion for the Coalition, need to hold regular Roundtable Meetings, add value to members CSR activities, build alliance and cooperation with relevant organisations and mobilise resource for addressing gaps in national response on HIV/AIDS.

    MD/Country Manager of CFAO Nigeria Thomas Pelletier and MD of APM terminals Apapa Limited, Martin Jacob were part of the guests that graced the occassion.

    In his acceptance speech after the induction, the co-Chair of NiBUCAA, Dr. Herbert Wigwe said: “The starting point for us is to reduce the rate of infection, and move on to provide treatment and make people understand basic things that can help prevent the pandemic. It’s all about education, but we cannot achieve this goal ourselves; we need collaboration from cooperate organisation. It is important for all of us to know that the fight against HIV and AIDS is not an option, it’s necessary for each and every one of us to fight it and I will explain why, in the continent we have about four million cases of HIV and 70 percent exist in Sub-Sahara Africa. Every year, we lose about a million precious children and adult to HIV, it could be anybody.”

    On his part, another co-Chair,  Mr. Nicolas Terraz said: “We are going to ensure re-awakening of members’ commitment and passion for the coalition, regular roundtable meetings, adding value to members CSR activities, resource mobilisation for addressing gaps in national response on HIV & AIDS.”

  • Kudos to Southwest leaders

    Not long ago, Yoruba leaders in the then Action Congress (AC) gathered at the instance of AC governors to discuss the issue of social, political and regional cooperation among South-west states. The idea, I believed, was to make the South-west a power block for social, political, economic, industrial, scientific and technological developments, similar to the noticeable developments in the Old Western Region under the leadership of Obafemi Awolowo. Now, its revival for the new Southwest is timely, especially at a time when the political and economic ships of Nigeria are sinking fast. It is from this vantage point of view that the recent wake-up call by Southwest leaders who are “demanding for more action out of little action from the Federal Government” is worthy of special notice.
    According to The Nation, January 13, front page and page 6, the Southwest All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders held a crucial meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on January 12, and resolved to (1) unite and press for more dividends of democracy for the region and, (2) defend the legacies of the zone (region) as the centrepiece of the progressive political ideology which gave birth to a new federal government during the 2015 general elections.
    According to Chief Bisi Akande who chaired the meeting, “We met principally to discuss all the things that may be affecting South-west, and we have come out with a resolution to show that in Southwest APC there is unity of purpose and that the leadership is one… We have resolved on all the issues that may be affecting governance of this country, and the influence we should exercise as a group in the interest and progress of this country”. Now, what I want our Southwest leaders to do in order to keep the zone as the most developed and prosperous region of Nigeria, like the old Western Region under Chief Awolowo, are the following:
    Continue to imagine there is no oil in Nigeria by thinking less about oil revenue from the federal government and begin to harness their human and other natural (mineral) resources for sustainable and enduring development of the region, not minding the fact that Ondo and Lagos are oil producing states.
    Forget oil and go back to the era of agriculture as the mainstay of the economy. In this connection, important suggestions could be made. First, begin an aggressive clearing of lands for mechanized farming in each state. People may not know that in the USA, agriculture is like our own oil as the greatest source of their national wealth, followed by machinery. Many of us who once lived in the US and Canada saw that there is hardly any land that is allowed to remain fallow, from Detroit to Chicago and to California in the USA, for example, and from Toronto to Nova Scotia, or the famous prairies of Canada – Manitoba, Winnipeg to British Columbia – covering more than 3,000 miles from Toronto, many of which are harnessed for cultivation of wheat and other agricultural products. What you see as you travel along the prairies are farmlands everywhere, unlike in Nigeria where the land between one city and the other is just bush and bush all the way, with little or no farm lands to be seen.
    In the case of South-west, there exists an abundance of fallow and fertile lands all over the place. You travel from Ile-Ife to Ibadan and from there to Abeokuta or from Ile-Ife to Ado-Ekiti, all you see are lands which are pitiably lying fallow but nevertheless dotted with crops like palm trees that were never planted by human beings but were merely dropped by animals in transit, simply because the lands are so fertile that any seed dropped on them would germinate and grow even though they were not planted by human beings. Nowadays, people’s interest is how to sell some of these massive lands for building of houses that may never be occupied because of their inappropriate locations in isolated bush areas that ought to have been developed for farming.
    On this matter, what I want our South-west leaders to do is to make a concerted effort to see that each governor turns the lands that lie fallow in their territories to productive enterprise through large scale mechanized farming. There is a special need to breed cattle, swine, goats, sheep and rams for local consumption as well as for export. There is abundant land for grazing in the South-west. Let every state acquire lands for cattle ranches where cattle would be raised, fed and sold to people of the state and other states while the remaining could be exported, thus putting an end to importation of cows from the North and Niger Republic. From these ranches, cows would be well fed to produce sufficient milk, beef and sausages for local consumption and for exports. In the breeding and rearing of cattle, attempts should be made to import big and healthy bulls and cows from abroad for the purpose of cross breeding so that the beef and dairy products like fresh milk, cheese and butter to be produced from the high breed cows would meet international standard for export.
    For mechanized farming, the South-west have no problem of high level manpower in the areas of agriculture, agricultural engineering and agricultural economics as well as its back up with graduates in mechanical engineering, soil science and soil engineering, electronic/electrical engineering, graduates in veterinary medicine, microbiology and other experts associated with mechanized farming, food production, food storage and preservation so that the agricultural products that are at present available only in seasons should be made available all the year round. All of this would create thousands, if not millions, of employment while the states’ economy would be boosted tremendously by incomes from agricultural products. And for the states, there would be abundance of food supply for all, and general prosperity to the bargain. For the purpose of planting crops all the year round, attempt should be made to fashion out a superb irrigation system that would be second to none in West Africa and probably beyond. In order to put all this into maximum effect, assistance and cooperation/partnership should be sought from the US farmers, and especially the Israelis who have turned their desert into lands of immense agricultural production. The African Development Bank (AFDB) and other financial agencies might also be brought in for their cooperation and assistance.
    As of now, let the mainstay of economy of South-west be agriculture. With food security, all other securities would also naturally fall into place. The South-west should never surrender its leadership in education, healthcare, industries and cooperative investments and other commercial enterprises as started by Awolowo whose insight led to the Oodua Investment Group of Companies which should now be expanded to an Octopus in the region through further cooperation and strong will amongst the governors.

    •Professor Makinde, FNAL is DG/CEO, Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Osogbo, Osun State.

  • Kudos for Ambode on Epe’s development

    Kudos for Ambode on Epe’s development

    Some residents of Epe, a coastal community, have praised the Lagos State Government for stimulating growth and promoting tourism in the hinterland.
    Epe lies on the north bank of the Lagos Lagoon and has road links to Ijebu-Ode in Ogun and Ikorodu in Lagos State.
    In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe, the residents lauded the government’s initiatives for attracting investment to the area.
    The development, they said, would boost tourism, culture, agriculture, the arts and entertainment in the area.
    A resident, Mr Niyi Musa, noted that the modern roads being constructed were opening up the area, adding: “God has made Governor Akinwunmi Ambode our messiah; he is a true son of the soil and he has proved to be one with the development going on in the community.”
    Another resident, Mr Lateef Sodiq, said the construction and expansion of roads, upgrading of jetties, waterfront infrastructure to boost tourism, and building of low-cost housing estates were giving the town a facelift.
    “For many years, Epe has been neglected by the government and I think the governor deserves commendation for bringing development to us.”
    For Mrs Risikat Balogun, a civil servant, the ongoing massive development has made many to relocate from Lagos to Epe.
    “The area is fast becoming a gateway to investment opportunities for local and international tourists and investors.
    “There has been an influx of investors and visitors to the town recently; Epe people are welcoming and hospitable and are ready to live with them,” she said.
    Mr Kunle Adesada said property and land were appreciating because of the opening up the coastal town.
    “Many families and individuals have been selling their land at reasonable prices for the development of the community and to attract investors and people willing to settle in Epe.
    “The economy of the community will recieve a boost without doubts, while the state government will be able to generate more revenue from the area and also create employment for the people,” he said.
    Epe boasts of a 100-year-old colonial office, a private university — St. Augustine Catholic University, forest resources notably the forest of black ants, flourishing animal and fish markets.
    The first Christian mission school — St. Michael CMS was established in the town in 1894, while the Government Muslim School was founded in 1898.
    The construction of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company located near Epe is scheduled for operation in 2018.

  • Kudos to PMB on the Gambian problem

    When our late Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who doubled as our foreign minister for a while said in October 1960 at the United Nations General Assembly plenary session that our country will protect the interest of the black man wherever he may be, people felt that this was an unrealistic ambition. Sir Abubakar, as we all know, was not given to making statements without having ruminated seriously upon it. He came to this conclusion because of the pain most African leaders felt about the humiliation of the black man in the hands of largely racist colonial governments in Africa at that time. This was also the onset of the Civil Rights movement in the USA when dogs were unleashed on blacks justly demanding to be treated as human beings. The most galling of these indignities was in Southern Africa stretching from the then Belgian Congo to the Afrikaner controlled Republic of South Africa where blacks were herded into the so-called Bantustans created to emphasize the division of black South Africans along tribal lines in an attempt to weaken the wind of change which the British Prime Minister had said was blowing through the whole of Africa which the colonial regimes must take note of so that they are not caught unprepared when the wind  would become an hurricane.

    It was in the light of this political ferment that Sir Abubakar committed Nigeria to supporting all black men struggling justly to be free. This speech from a conservative leader of the most populous Black Country whose friendship was highly valued in the Cold War years of the struggle for world supremacy between communism and capitalism must have shocked policy makers in the West.   From that time onwards till today, the foreign policy of Nigeria has not deviated from protecting the interests of the black man. Nigeria may be careful about meddling in the affairs of the historic black diaspora in north and South America and their struggle for equality. This is because our leverage on the powerful countries of the United States and Brazil is rather inconsequential. But in the Caribbean islands, Nigeria has played significant roles there particularly in its high profile diplomatic and cultural presence in such countries as Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago. The point I am making is that Nigeria has been consistent in batting for the black man as much as its economy will permit. Nigeria bore almost 35 percent of the budget of the liberation committee of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) resident in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This was apart from direct financial and military assistance to national liberation movements of various countries from those of Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. One of the first international roles of independent Nigeria was participating in UN peace-keeping in the Congo in 1961. We must not forget the burden which Nigeria happily bore in the cause of African liberation and which it continues to bear in its disproportionate budgetary support for the African Union even today.

    In recent years, there have been attempts to refocus Nigeria’s foreign policy away from political consideration to economic issues now that the continent is largely free from overt political domination. But one thing that has remained is our country’s role in the lives of black people particularly in West Africa and the continent as a whole.

    Defence of democratic regimes is now part of Nigeria’s foreign policy goals. Even during military regimes, Nigeria continued with this policy while critics said Nigeria was defending a system of government denied to its people. This embarrassing situation must have hastened the reluctant exit of the military from the seat of power in 1999.

    When “civilian” government headed by Obasanjo came to power in 1999, it was natural for it to continue to embrace the new doctrine of supporting democratic regimes in addition to defending the interests of the Blackman worldwide. This informed President Olusegun Obasanjo’s intervention in Togo, São Tomé and Principe, Guinea–Bissau, Liberia and to a certain extent in Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and Sierra Leone just to ensure through preventive diplomacy, that the region did not dissolve into avoidable fratricidal conflict as before. What informed Nigeria’s policy was trying to put out the fire in the house of your neighbours before being consumed in the conflagration when the fire spread to one’s house. In other words, the policy is not simply based on altruism but enlightened self-interest. This preventive diplomacy will continue to operate no matter who is in power in Nigeria. Of course this assumption is based on peace in Nigeria as well as a strong economy to back its foreign policy. The populace would also need to be carried along so that nobody grumbles about domestic problems being left unattended to while the country is busy pacifying other countries that may be distressed in the region.

    When the situation in The Gambia with a population of about one and a half million  people and combined armed and police force of about 2400 deteriorated following the refusal of its sit-tight President Yahya Jammeh to vacate his position, Nigeria had to step in. President Yahya Jammeh has ruled the small country sandwiched within Senegal for 22 years after overthrowing its president, Sir Dauda Jawara in a coup  d’état. A presidential election supervised by his government was lost and a new man Adama Barrow won the election. Yahyah jammeh admitted defeat for some days and later began to find excuses to remain in power. The ECOWAS leaders met in Abuja and issued an ultimatum to Jammeh to step down. Two countries were critical to this decision. These were Nigeria and Senegal. Once Buhari showed leadership in spite of the problems at home, Senegal showed resolve and the others followed. To ensure global support, Nigeria led others to secure UN Security Council support. President Buhari after three trips to negotiate with the recalcitrant Jammeh sent first a naval frigate to cruise around the coast of the country as a precursor of proposed combined military operations involving also the army and the Air Force; then he sent a detachment of Nigeria Air Force. A Hercules C130 moved about 800 troops to Senegal while Nigerian planes put pressure on the recalcitrant Jammeh by buzzing the capital of Banjul to show resolve and determination. What followed was expected. The Chief of Staff of the Gambian army, General Ousman Badjie issued a statement that his troops will not fight his West African brothers and subsequently pledged his loyalty to the new President Adama Barrow who had earlier on been sworn in in the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal. By this time, the troops ready to strike had been bolstered by a token company of Malian troops. The fate of Jammeh was in the balance. He was offered asylum in Nigeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Guinea. He apparently chose finally to go to Equatorial Guinea where he shares sit-tight political consanguinity with the Equatorial Guinean President Tewedoro Macias Nguema who has been in power in the oil-rich country for decades. Buhari must ensure Jammeh signs a guarantee of non-interference in the affairs of The Gambia and Senegalese and Nigerian troops should remain in the country to ensure peace and security while removing from command positions all Jammeh’s appointees.

    Buhari has resoundingly won his first foreign policy challenge and he deserves our congratulations. I was disappointed that some members of our Senate did not rise to the occasion. The criticism of Buhari by senators Ike Ekweremadu and Chukwuka Utazi for sending troops to The Gambia without Senate approval is totally unpatriotic and uncalled for. The intent of the constitution they quoted is not to tie the hands of the president in foreign policy emergencies but to ensure that Nigeria does not declare wars without Senate approval. No war broke out in this case and the AMERICAN example which some of these people always quote permits the president to seek approval post troops’ deployment in case of crisis necessitating quick action. It is not in the interest of Nigeria to belittle the effort of the President and to deride him when celebrations are called for.

  • Kudos for Dangote’s sponsorship of festival

    Kudos for Dangote’s sponsorship of festival

    Indigenous conglomerate Dangote Industries Ltd has been commended for sponsoring the maiden African Food festival, Calabar, Cross River State.
    At the event held last weekend, the governor, Professor Ben Ayade, joined participants at the festival to laud the exemplary attitude of the Dangote Group in sponsoring the event.
    The Governor, who was represented by his wife, Dr. Linda, declared the food festival open.
    He said with the African Food festival replacing the now rested Children’s Carnival, Dangote Group has stepped in as the pioneer sponsor of the event.
    This, Ayade said, proved that the Group is truly committed in partnering all stakeholders for a better Nigeria.
    Prof. Ayade explained that the food festival was to bring together various cuisines in Africa as the continent is very rich in tasty cuisines.
    He added that through the partnership of the sponsors, cuisines from different nations have been gathered in Calabar, urging all present to savour the taste of the cuisines available.
    Convener of African Food festival, Calabar, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, said the food festival was aimed at uniting all tribes in continental Africa through their respective cuisines.
    She said the maiden food festival was to showcase African dishes and culinary skills, adding that Cross River State is very rich in dishes.
    Ita-Giwa commended Dangote Group for its partnership, which enabled the festival to become a reality.
    She said since the cessation of Children’s Carnival, Dangote Group stopped participating in Calabar Carnival, but with the introduction of Food festival, the Group is back.
    She described Dangote Group as a leader in the food industry with subsidiaries as Dangote Flour, Dangote Sugar, NASCON and Dansa as proven leaders in their respective sectors.
    The Convener also called on industries and investors to take advantage of the abundance of food and cuisines in Cross River and invest in the state.
    Investing in the state, according to her, will add values and create more jobs. She particularly called on investors to invest in food processing and preservative plants as the raw materials are readily available.
    Participants in the food festival included the Republic of Benin and Ghana, Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, Market Women, Cross River State.

  • Kudos to The Nation, FG on Oyo/Ogbomoso road

    SIR: The ongoing repair of the damaged portions of the Oyo / Ogbomoso road is commendable. It is an answer to the calls by Nigerians for its rehabilitation. I am particularly grateful to the federal government of Nigeria. It is possibly a direct result of my letter published by “The Nation” newspaper of Monday, December 10.

    I am grateful to The Nation for being the harbinger of the good thing. It simply means that good things can come out of our own Nazareth called Nigeria. More gladdening is the fact that some engineers were seen taking photographs of the absolute, narrow and worn out bridge over Oba River at Odooba town in Ogo Oluwa West LCDA of Oyo State. It is our belief that work will commence on its reconstruction soonest. To be candid, souls of many promising Nigerians have perished there. Also, the road sides between Odooba town and Bowen University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ogbomoso have claimed more lives since the publication. We urge the federal government ably represented by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fasola, SAN to expedite action on the repair of this quintessential road. The road is so important to Nigeria that an hour of traffic gridlock on it affects the national economy negatively.

    In the same vein, we commend the government for the efforts at completing the dualization of Ibadan / Oyo/ Ogbomoso /Ilorin federal highway. The joy of the people knew no bound when work began on the Oyo /Ogbomoso axis of the road a few months ago. We beseech the government not to stop work until it is fully completed. To be sure, its completion on time will reduce the pressure on the old road as the number of articulated vehicles, tankers and other heavy duty vehicles plying it would be reduced.

    • Adelani Olawuyi

    Odooba-Ogbomoso