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  • Ayoola Foods reiterates commitment to customers, distributors

    The CEO/MD of Ayoola Foods, Engr. Segun Olaye, has commended the company’s distributors across the country, saying their activities have helped in its growth and performance in the past years.

    Olaye spoke at the company’s 2019 Customer Forum at the weekend in Lagos.

    He explained the customers and distributors have distinguished themselves in the availability of the company’s food products range nationwide by making sure that its products are household names in Nigeria.

    He assured the distributors Ayoola Foods, which is a major player in Nigeria’s food sector with a broad product portfolio and a robust pan-Nigerian distribution network, will also not relent in supporting distributors in their logistics distribution network to enhance their business.

    “At Ayoola Foods, we have been able to identify the fact that our key distributors are actually our major drivers in this business.

    “So they matter so much to us, and it is important to us to know who they are, where they are, what they do. Interestingly, we are number one in the market,” he added.

    He said winners of the various cash gifts have contributed immensely to the company’s revenue, adding that Ayoola Foods is extremely grateful for their contribution in driving the growth and development of the company.

    While commending the distributors and customers on their patronage over the years, the company’s Head of Marketing & Sales, Olanrewaju Adisa, urged them to do more in the distribution of its various products.

    He said Ayoola Foods has been able over the years to create a niche for itself with its indigenous high quality food products that meet national and international standards in production and packaging methods for the satisfaction of customers.

    According to him, Ayoola Poundo Yam is unarguably Nigeria’s number one alternative to the stressful pounded yam with the taste and aroma of pounded yam freshly prepared without the stress of pounding.

    He also mentioned the Ayoola Plantain Flour made from unripe plantain consists of carbohydrate, dietary fibre, vitamin and minerals.

    “It makes an alternative food for people with diabetics and other health issues.

    Adisa also listed Ayoola Beans Flour, Cassava Fufu flour and Rice flour as among some of the high end quality products being produced by the company in Nigeria.

    Two of its brand ambassadors- Odunlade Adekola and Idowu Philips, popularly known as Mama Rainbow- attended the forum.

  • Outfit catering for senior citizens takes off in Lagos

    An outfit, MK Executive Care, dedicated to catering for senior citizens has taken off in Lagos.

    Its Executive Director, Issac Ukeleghe, said the outfit is committed to providing adequate care for aged citizens at affordable rate.

    According to him: “Senior citizens after paying their dues to the society and their families should not be left to suffer and die but should be catered for in a good environment.”

    He spoke at the unveiling of the outfit, which also adopted a charity organisation, Living Fountain Orphanage Lekki, Lagos as part of his Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    Ukeleghe told reporters: “It is a blessing and not a curse to grow old. Nigerians should not abandon their aged parents and relatives just because of old age which is inevitable most time.”

    He pointed out the outfit has existed in the United Kingdom with great success, explaining the expansion was to accommodate elderly persons in Nigeria.

    On what spurred the extension to Nigeria, he said: “Last year I needed someone to look after my dad because he couldn’t look after himself anymore.

    “He needed mobility and assistance in mobility and none of his children were around to support him. So we depended on an external person to look after him.”

    Continuing, he said, “Luckily for us someone within the village took interest and the person without any training or formal arrangement decided to start coming to my daddy’s house to look after him.

    “The service he was rendering for my dad is what I do for others. So we came to a point we had to set up a formal arrangement.

    “So we started paying him monthly, later my dad died in April at about 110.”

    He explained MK Executive Care does not run old people’s home but provides trained caregivers for clients who subscribe for the service.

    “It is a situation where interested persons would consult us for the services and we study their cases and provide the most suitable caregiver to work with them.

    “It could be someone who would work for four hours, eight hours, twelve hours, few days in the week or a live-in caregiver depending on the client’s choice.

    “Clients could also make their choices about the type of caregiver they want.

    “Unfortunately Nigeria does not have such system like we have in the UK. We are hoping though that with things changing and with good intention, we would get to that point.”

    The care-givers, he assured, have been well-screened to avoid theft, security threats and criminal activities.

    “For instance when we employ someone, one of the commonest things we do is to get the phone number of the person and we check if it is registered in the person’s name, we also get guarantors and we phone the guarantors to make them accept the responsibility.

    “The few ones we have got we have gone to the length of going to their houses to be sure and in addition we also get the prove of address to again check the address to see that is actually where the person is, “ he said.

    Continuing on background checks, Ukeleghe said: “We are doing some police checks but they are not as detailed and as comprehensive as what we have in the UK.

    “However we are trying to refine our system on the context of where we operate because we know we need to refine it and training is also very important. So we need to train our workers.

    “Not just about employing the person but training them to buy into the vision of the organisation.

    “And hopefully with the check we have in place, for instance when we send someone to a place we would regularly be checking on that person.

    “We do a spot check, we regularly check without announcing we were coming and we regularly phone our clients to see whether they are happy,” he explained.

    On the needs for cultural reorientation for old people’s care, the caregiver said: “In my case we almost thought that our people do not need the service, we always say that the family support is always there.

    “What we forget is that when we bring civilisation in, we want to push our children to go out and get greener pasture, they can no longer be with us again and there is a vacuum which someone needs to fill.

    “We need to fine-tune our minds to know that, that old time is gone when you think the family is there.

    “Even as organised as the system is in the UK is, we have workers who steal from and abuse their clients.

    “How much more in a place where there is no system? We still try to make sure we use the available systems to get things working.

    “We have CCTV in the office and we want to have a system where we can install CCTV in the homes of our clients where they can see their old parents from anywhere in the world,” he said.

  • Firm offers eye-catching incentives for Lekki estate

    A firm, VINEREALTORS, has offered prospective subscribers to Brooklyn Court Phase 2 Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos, mouth-watering incentives.

    It said the move was to improve the chances of subscribers to own properties in the luxurious, high-profiled estate.

    Vinerealtors, in a statement, explained subscription could also serve as an investment option for land investors.

    On why the estate is the option to beat, the firm said: “Few years ago, Dangote went into the bush of Ibeju-Lekki to invest. The rich are going far to buy land.

    “The rich compete to divert their investments into developing areas filled with opportunities.”

    Conversely, it pointed out unwise investors grumble about the distance of Ibeju-Lekki without being able to afford land in developed areas.

    Vinerealtors added: “In Lagos, history and experience has taught that no land is far, no land is a bush.”

    It explained the 100 percent dry land estate costs N750,000 per 600sqm. You get a FREE plot and a phone when you buy five.. Limited plots available for this offer.
    Neighborhood
    Lekki Free Trade Zone
    Cargo Port Construction
    Dangote Refinery
    Lekki Seaport
    Power Oil
    La Campaigne Tropicana Beach Resort
    Benefits
    Swimming Pool & Recreation Garden
    Gated estate with security
    Free from all forms of Government and ‘omo onile’ issues.

    The firm is reachable through Binalaifa on +2348166250519 (also on whatsapp) or www.vinerealtors.com.ng 

  • NAFDAC warns against use of chemicals to bleach skin

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) has advised Nigerians against the use of bleaching or “whitening” chemicals because they could result to cancer and kidney malfunction.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

    She said her advice became necessary against the backdrop of the seizure of large quantity of whitening chemicals recently seized by NAFDAC in Lagos.

    “There are many people involved in these whitening chemicals, from glutathione injection to the tablets and other such chemicals.

    “ Sometimes last week, we got information that there were some people involved in these products at the Trade fair complex in Lagos and our Investigation and Enforcement team moved in and confiscated four trucks of glutathione.

    “We are concerned about glutathione because it can cause skin cancer as well as kidney dysfunction and failure; this is what people do not know.

    “ People should stop bleaching their skin; we should be black and proud. NAFDAC is on the spot to ensure that these dangerous products, which come in illegally are seized and destroyed,” she said.

    The NAFDAC boss, however, advised Nigerians dealing in genuine foods and chemical products to ensure that their products get tested and registered with the agency for safe consumption.

    “If importers know that their products are safe for consumption, they should always ensure to put them through our normal registration process and not pass through `shortcuts.’

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    “ We understand that not all unregistered products are bad, but Nigerians should always present their products for scrutiny. Some people just do not want scrutiny.”

    She called for interagency cooperation as well as synergy as effective means of stopping importation of illicit drugs to Nigeria.

    “Multi-agency cooperation and synergy will also go a long way toward addressing the issue of importation of some of these chemicals into Nigeria. Most of these chemicals come in from China.

    “I was in China recently and I have started mounting pressure on them to change their laws which allow them export products that are banned in their country to a place like Nigeria.

    “The Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministries, as well as other relevant government agencies can also make strong impact in that direction.”

  • Lagos Most Beautiful Girl to hold Saturday

    The maiden edition of the Lagos Most Beautiful Girl pageant will hold at Muson Centre Onikan, Lagos on Saturday, January 27, 2019. The event will also witness Lagos achievers awards which is set to honour and recognize individuals and sectors that have made their marks in Lagos State.

    According to the project manager, Dapo Obasun, Lagos Most Beautiful Girl, unlike some pageants has adopted a unique way of selecting  winners. Winners, he said will not only be selected by the judges but also by viewers, as the event will be streamed live.

    Obasun further disclosed that the winner carts away 500 dollars with a year’s worth of hair and clothes sponsored by their partners.

    “The star prize is 500 Dollars and we have a company sponsoring their hair for a year and a clothing line also”.

    Over 40 contestants are expected to arrive the camp ground at Takwa Bay beach today, where they will go through orientation and skill acquisition.

    On the reason for the skill acquisition, Obasun said that there are “a lot of girls are on the street, jobless and don’t know what to do but with this, we will boost their entrepreneurial skills.”

    Also lending speaking on behalf of Lush hair, one of the sponsors, Mrs Toyin Iyoka said “at Lush Hair, we believe so much in Nigeria and in Lagos state. So when he came to our office we listened carefully to him and we agreed to sponsor this great event. You know as women our hair defines us, without our hair nobody will pay much attention and even if you don’t like to make your hair you can wear a wig. So we are sponsoring this 100%”.

  • ‘Lagos Ibadan standard gauge ready in Feb’

    A test run of the 45km Lagos Abeokuta standard gauge from in Iju, Lagos and terminate in Abeokuta will begin by February, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Mr Fidet Okhiria said on Wednesday.

    Speaking at Ijoko, Ogun State during the routine inspection of the $1.7 billion project, Okhiria who represented the Minister of Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said by February 6, the corporation will begin a test run of the tracks.

    He said the first phase of the project, which is to link Lagos with Abeokuta by rail, is on course, adding the federal government will first deliver on it while work progresses on linking Abeokuta with Ibadan, thereby completing the Lot II of the Lagos to Kano standard gauge project.

    He said the contractor – China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation- has fully laid 38 kilometers of tracks from Kajola (km 41 to Abeokuta, km 79) while efforts to get the project from Kajola to Iju, is on course and would be achieved by February.

    According to him: “The contractors have said their equipment could lay 1.5 kilometres of tracks per day. That means that they could achieve the 10km distance between Kajola and Iju within seven days and we can start the test run of the tracks latest February 7.”

    He expressed satisfaction at the speed of the contractor, adding with the civil works between Kajola and Iju completed, work could go on unhindered on the laying of tracks.

    Okhiria, who led the media and other members of the project monitoring committee to ride on first class train coaches on the tracks between Kajola and Abeokuta, expressed satisfaction on the pace of the project.

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    He said two first class full air-conditioned coaches have been drawn from the Itakpe-Warri standard gauge corridor to service the new rail line.

    According to him, with a speed of 150 km/h, Lagos-Ibadan could be achieved within one hour, adding that such would have a tremendous impact on housing stock and congestion witnessed in the nation’s urban centres.

    Okhiria said the federal government has placed order for 30 locomotives and coaches and wagons to further boost modernisation of the fixed and rolling stocks of the railway corporation.

    He also praised the transparency of the compensation plans of the government which according to him has ensured the peaceful environment within which the contractor has been operating.

  • EFCC, ICPC should investigate 2016 audit report – CSO

    A civic organization, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) on Wednesday called on the anti-graft agencies the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to investigate the 2016 Audit Report.

    The organization stated that N2.97 billion meant for 30 critical projects in the country was unaccounted for as stated in the report.

    Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, stated these at the launch of its Independent Findings of priority projects captured in the 2016 audit report.

    Elomo stated that the organization monitored 19 priority projects in 12 states captured under the report this year and found out that most of them have been abandoned.

    According to him, ten out of the projects have been abandoned even when monies have been paid for them.

    He noted that only one out of the 19 projects had been completed when PLSI visited the states this month.

    The monitored states by PLSI include; Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Imo and Enugu.

    Some of the abandoned projects include; construction of mini-water scheme phase two, contract for the construction of small earth dam, rehabilitation of two-township water supply schemes, improvement of Olode water supply scheme under the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Others are construction of Weru bridge fencing of Okene water works among others which was supposed to be implemented by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

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    Projects abandoned under the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing include the rehabilitation of Ikorodu road with about N112.8million unaccounted for, also the rehabilitation of 24km Akungba-Ikare-Omuo-Kabba road among others.

    Elomo said: “We visited 12 states over the last six months and monitored 19 out of the 30 priority projects highlighted in this report. While one of the projects had been completed, two were not executed, 10 abandoned, three poorly implemented, another two currently ongoing and one now provided for in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “The major issue for us is how procurement laws and financial regulations are flagrantly disregarded at the risk of public funds and the negative effect on Nigerians, many of which are in rural areas in terms of access to clean portable water, access roads, quality health facilities.

    “A total of N2.97 billion is said to be unaccounted for by different contractors on these 30 projects and we are calling on the anti-corruption agencies to quickly investigate these cases in order to ensure deserved value for money is achieved.”

    Also, Project Director, TrustAfrica, Chinedu Nwagu, called on the National Assembly to carry out a review of the 2016 report.

    He said it is only when a review of the report is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive arm of government that the anomalies found in the report could be corrected.

    Nwagu said: “There is need for the National Assembly to do the needful by ensuring extensive review of the 2016 audit report of the federation. It is only when this is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive Arm that these anomalies can be corrected.

    “Parliament should equally make effort in sending the new Audit Service Commission Bill 2018 to the president for assent. The new law will go a long way in preventing such illegality from occurring again,” he said.

  • Gridlock as tankers, vehicles crash in Lagos

    A multiple accident on Wednesday’s evening caused a major traffic gridlock on Ikorodu road in Lagos.

    The accident occurred few metres away from the NEM Insurance corporate Head office on Ikorodu road.

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    Several cars and petrol tankers were involved in the incident with a Toyota Yaris completely written off.

    An eyewitness told The Nation LASEMA officials responded swiftly to emergency calls.

    Many of them were seen evacuating the vehicles to ease the gridlock worsened by rush-hour traffic.

    A fire tanker belonging to the Lagos State Fire Service was also stationed to avoid fire outbreak.

  • 8 out of 10 Nigerian women wear wigs – Survey

    No fewer than eight out of ten Nigerian women wear wigs as part of their fashion items for their day-to-day activities, a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria reveals.

    The study, conducted on 1, 100 urban and suburban women from Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, showed that 81.8 percent of respondents own wigs and prefer them to sew-in weaves.

    showing statistics of women who wear wigs

    While a sew-in is a weave sown onto the wearer’s hair, a wig is a head covering made from human hair, animal hair, or synthetic fiber.

    The lace front wig is fast becoming a favourite, replacing the weft wig. The illusion of hair growing from the scalp is the feature that makes this wig the most preferred.

    The survey also showed that 54.5 percent of them own between 1 to 3 wigs and the remaining 45.5 percent owned up to six or more wigs for rotation purposes.

    Chart showing number of wigs respondents own

    Explaining their preferences, the women told NAN that convenience, ease of use and cost-effectiveness were the major reasons they preferred wigs to sew-in weaves.

    Bolaji Osofisan said, “Its super comfy because I can take it in and out at ease. It is durable because I can reuse over and over after a wash. It is trendy, doesn’t smell and my hair gets to breath daily.”

    Similarly, Akpezi Ikede stated it was easy to take out and style by oneself thereby reducing frequent salon visits and saving cost.

    However, the 18.2 percent who preferred sew-in weaves to wigs told NAN that they were more customisable to fit the head and not as heavy as some wigs.

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    Some others added that they were afraid of the wig falling off and that the cost of wigs keep rising everyday making it difficult to keep up with.

    NAN gathered that prices of wigs start from N15, 000 to as high as N500, 000 depending on the quality of human hair used and the illusion of the lace front.

    Commenting on the wig trend, celebrity hairstylist, Ada Kanu of Dugykay hair said, “Wigs are trending now because of the weather and the fact that it is an alternative to sew-ins.

    “They are time-saving, very convenient to wear and can change one’s look in seconds. I would advise clients to go for convenience – either sew-ins or wigs.

    “Hairstyle should be about what best suits you and how comfortable you feel wearing it,” she said.

  • Pipeline vandalism: Navy arrest notorious kingpin

    The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday said it had arrested Mr Shaibu Ogunmola, an alleged notorious pipeline vandal kingpin under its Operation Awase in Lagos.

    Operation Awase was set up by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy in 2014 to tackle the vandalism of the NNPC pipelines in Majidun, Ikorodu and other parts of the state and to crave the maximum cooperation of host communities.

    Rear Admiral Obed Ngalabak, Leader of the operation, told newsmen that Shuaibu and his boys were known for vandalising oil pipelines under the Altas Cove covering about 70 kilometers.

    The Atlas Cove Depot in Lagos was designed to receive imported petroleum products and through the line products are distributed to various part of the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that at the Ilashe Community where Shuaibu operates, drums were buried by the sides of each pipeline to syphon products when being released from the Atlas cove to other depots.

    “Two weeks back, we got information about the operation of some people in Ilashe, part of Atlas cove.

    “Following that information, we came and realised that the oil pipelines have been divided into fields by three people, Shuaibu, Barshiru and Dele.

    “The arrest of Shuaibu which we did last week on Jan. 17 was in line with the operation Awase which is about the protection of oil pipelines.

    “He is the ring leader and has been in this business for over 30 years,’’ he said

    He said that Shuaibu had groomed some boys in the business adding that his arrest was significant in ensuring the end of vandalism in Nigeria.

    Ngalabak said Shuaibu would soon be handed over to relevant agency for immediate and proper prosecution to serve as a deterrent to his boys and others in the line of business.

    “We hope that Shuaibu’s arrest will yield result and that proper people in position will do all that is required to punish him,’’ he added

    He assured that the operation would not rest until all those involved in oil pipeline vandalism were arrested and brought to book.

    “We still have about three Shuaibu’s, we have Dele, we have Bashiru, and one other person and we are after them.

    “We are not going to rest until we get them, except if they leave Nigeria but we will make sure that we get them.

    “And we know that they will not leave because this is where they make their money; but if they leave here, that is good for us because that is our aim but if they come back, we will get them,’’ he said.

    He called for support on logistics for the operations to work effectively and urged Nigerian to support every effort that would help to curb pipeline vandalism for economic growth and development in the country.

    Also, the General Manager, Security, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Sam Otoboeze, said that the arrest of Shuaibu meant celebration for the corporation.

    “The arrest means celebration for us because of the deterrent impact, not only the prosecution of the key character, but the message that will go out.

    “We do hope that the way it is handled will determine to what extent the success will be sustained.

    We celebrate that arrest and we thank the Nigerian Navy for picking him up and want to hope that this continues until so many other Shuaibus’ are arrested because certainly, they are more than 10,’’ he said

    Otoboeze noted that Shuaibu and others in the business of pipeline vandalism remained the major enemies of Nigeria.

    “You can imagine the wastages, not the one stolen but the one wasted for it to drip into their well, underground tank; you can imagine what that is.

    “So, the economic sabotage is massive and a fight to bring it down is something to be celebrated. It is also celebration of reliving the country from the shackles of poverty.

    He assured that the NNPC would continue to strengthen its partnership with all the agencies to ensure effective protection of the nation’s oil pipelines for economic growth and development in the country.

    “We have a kind of robust intelligence network, outside our own system, which we can also support the government.

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    “Also, to be the voice of the agency when they require support, like logistic to make them succeed, that we will do,’’ he added.

    This, he noted would continue to strengthen the relationship and ensure that we keep the fire burning.

    Commenting on the economic values of the Atlas Cove pipeline, he said: “the economic benefit is huge, one is that the history of fuel scarcity will be gone, the origin, the foundation, the tap root of fuel scarcity was from the attack of this place.

    “The moment this place is tampered with, there will be fuel scarcity; just imagine the quantity of fuel that goes into the soil wasted.

    “Then imagine the more that is scooped and sent across to Cotonou, because there is their major artery of their supply.

    “So, if this battle is won, we will be able to think and it might even help to crash fuel price, because when you have it in surplus, then of cause, in demand and supply argument of typical economics, it could come down.

    “So, we need it, it is a war for the nation not a war for one person, it is not for security agencies alone or NNPC alone.

    “It is for all and sundry because down the line it affect those that are yet unborn, including the children in the school and the aged who are waiting for their pension.’’

    Meanwhile, in an interview with Shuaibu, he denied being a vandalism kingpin adding that he had no idea of the reason he was arrested by the Navy.

    “I don’t know why they arrested me, I was in my house, I was going to pray when this people came and arrested me.

    “I am a businessman, I am a hotelier,’’ he said