The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Maintain

  • Yaba LCDA chair urges residents to maintain roads

    Yaba LCDA chair urges residents to maintain roads

    •Council chief renders 100-day accounts

    The Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, Kayode Omiyale, has urged the residents to take care of the roads to prevent them from damage and ensure longevity.

    The chairman said the mandate the electorate gave him remained sacred, adding that “it must  be used to the advantage of the electorate”.

    Omiyale spoke at the inauguration of two roads – Obadna and Ajayi-Bembe – to mark the 100 days of his administration in office.

    He said: “During the electioneering campaign, I promised to operate an open-door policy. We have not deviated from this promise in the past 100 days we took over the helms of affairs.

    “Yaba LCDA prides itself as one of those with the highest number of higher institutions in Nigeria. It requires extra efforts to promote peace and harmony for the students not to be disturbed in their academic pursuit. This we are doing to the best of our ability.”

    At the inauguration of two roads, Omiyale urged the residents to prevent motor mechanic from turning them into workshops or market places.

    He handed over the roads to the community development associations (CDAs).

    Omiyale said: “The topography of this environment makes it a flood-prone area. We have raised the drainage and the roads to discharge water into the big canal. We made half of Obadina Road to be interlocking because the soil in that area has turned to vegetation. We had to dig deep to get to the soil because of the huge deposits of domestic waste when the roads were not passable…”

  • How to maintain good sight, by opticians

    How to maintain good sight, by opticians

    The health sector has received a boost as a world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor Optical Supply Nigeria (EOSN), opened its office in the country to provide eye care services.

    At the unveiling of some of its products in Ikeja, Lagos, its East Africa Region Managing Director, Mr Tamas Toth,  said four of five persons who need corrective lenses do not correct their sight. Essilor’s goal, he added, is to improve the vision of such in Nigeria.

    He said EOSN’s aim is ‘’to promote the Essilor flagship international leading brands of ophthalmic lenses/products, which include Varilux progressive lenses, Crizal anti-reflective coatings, Xperio polarised sunlenses, eyeZen single vision lenses and transitions photochromic lenses”.

    According to Toth, the firm will be a distribution centre for its digital  lenses, unbranded ophthalmic lenses and various sunglasses, frames and readers.

    “We aim at providing a world-class  edging facility in Lagos to provide quality edging and mounting locally; that is, extending the Essilor training and education to the optometric fraternity in the country with the establishment of Essilor Academy in Lagos,” Toth added.

    He reiterated that proximity to customers and adaptation to local markets were key success factors for the group, which operates in 100 countries.

    ‘’Essilor’s global growth strategy is based on regional market coverage in contact with its customers. In line with the Group’s mission of improving Lives by Improving Sight, Essilor is committed to providing vision solutions and services to eye care professionals in every geography,’’ he said.

    He said in line with its global strategy of correcting poor vision through awareness-raising events, charity and inclusive business development initiatives, EOSN is partnering Eye Foundation Hospital in Ikorodu.

    Over 500 adults and children got eye checks. After the screening, people were asked to choose corrective lenses provided by Essilor teams, which were fitted on the spot.

    Essilor designs, manufactures and markets  lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its mission is to improve sight.

    To support this, Essilor has allocated more than 200 million euros to research  yearly to bring new products to market.

    Essilor  employs 64,000 people worldwide. It markets its products in more than 100 countries and has 33 plants, 490 prescription laboratories and edging facilities, as well as five research and development centres around the world.

    Eye Foundation Hospital Group CEO, Dr Kunle Hassan, said Nigerians would be happy to see a brand that takes care of people’s vision, “Vision is important. Without vision, you are nothing. I am happy partnering them in free eye screening outreach in the country, provision of effective and accessible eye care services is important for effectively controlling visual impairment including blindnes,” he said.

  • Buhari’s ministers to maintain austere convoys, fewer aides

    Buhari’s ministers to maintain austere convoys, fewer aides

    The ethos of the yet to be inaugurated federal executive council is beginning to emerge with indications yesterday that each of the incoming ministers will have to make do with a small retinue of aides and convoy when travelling.

    “Leakages, retinue of aides, protocol staff, large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration,” Minister-designate Chris Ngige declared yesterday at the end of the two day retreat organized for them by the Presidency at the seat of power

    Ngige,a former governor of Anambra State said he and his colleagues resolved to be part of the change agenda of the government.

    President Muhammadu Buhari at the opening of the retreat on Thursday had charged them to be ready to operate in a lean economy.

    To this,Ngige responded: “Yes, lean economy because we are going to block areas of leakages, retinue of aides, protocol staff, large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration.”

    It does not matter ,he said,whether a Minister has portfolio or not as every minister will always have the opportunity to bring his or her ideas to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    His words: “If you have portfolio, or if you don’t have portfolio, it is one single Federal Executive Council. You bring whatever it is on the table. That is not a problem at all.

    “We have a right to discuss things around the ministries because it is one single cabinet. The important thing is that we want to move our people from where they are now.

    “There is abject poverty, which concerns about 75 percent of the populace.

    “So, we need to actually restructure the political and social moment of the country and that is what we are going to do. That means poverty will reduce.”

    Also contributing ,another minister designate,Dr Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi) said: “You can see what happened to the economy. We have had a very drastic drop in the price of crude oil, more than 50 percent over the past one year.

    “So revenue coming into the country has reduced considerably. So government must really run in a way that we will be able to meet the aspirations of our people to make sure that Nigerians are happy.”

    Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (Ogun) said: “As a team, we have bonded and we got to know each other a little better but most importantly was the strategic coming together to ensure that we are ready for the huge task ahead and I am very confident that we can do it.”

    Usani Usani (Cross River State) said: “It was very enriching, I have gained in terms of knowledge, experience and I have also been educated on the need knowledge, skills and requirement for reworking nationhood based on basic necessities toward a greater and more successful economy.

    “I hope to, by the grace of God, key into any portfolio assigned to me. Nigerians should realize that this is a challenging period and should give their maximum cooperation possible for the administration to succeed because the aim of the administration is sincere and honest to leverage Nigerians on a better platform for sustainable living and higher standard of living.”

    James Ocholli (SAN) (Kogi) said that the retreat was well thought .

    “All of us are highly enlightened and we are grateful that getting into government at this time with the change mantra, we will not be taken by surprise.

    “Some of the things that we have learnt in the past two days, even former governors who have completed eight years never knew them when they were sworn in. So they were learning on the job trying to find their way of sorting out things.

    “There is a lot of demand on us as the president told us at the opening session and he is preparing us to meet the challenges that we will face.

    I think it will be better for us ministers and the nation that most of us will hit the ground running on day one.”

  • We’ll maintain NYSC for National unity, says Buhari

    We’ll maintain NYSC for National unity, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised that his administration would take necessary actions to maintain and improve the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme as a functional vehicle for the promotion of  national unity and integration.

    Buhari gave the assurance after receiving a briefing from officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta.

    The President, according to a statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, affirmed his confidence and trust in the programme, noting that the objective for which the scheme was established in 1973 was still relevant for national development.

    He said: “I firmly believe in NYSC and I think it should remain a national programme to promote integration.

    “Whenever I go home to Daura, I look out for corps members from Lagos, Aba and other parts of the country.

    “I am always thrilled to learn that except for the NYSC, some of them have never left their states of origin to visit other cities in the country,” President Buhari said.

    Mrs. Jimeta told the President that the increasing number of NYSC participants posed a challenge to the scheme due to the dwindling revenue, from the national budget, to cater for their needs.

    She told the President that the annual enrolment of corps participants had increased from 2,364 at inception in 1974 to 229,016 in 2014.

    “Given the increasing number of tertiary institutions, our projection is that the number of corps participants may rise to 300,000 by 2020,’’ she said.

    The Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Johnson Olawumi, told the President that there were plans to make the scheme voluntary  and reduce the corps population to make the programme more sustainable.

  • DG enjoins corps members to maintain neutrality

    DG enjoins corps members to maintain neutrality

    The Director-General (DG) of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olawunmi Johnson, enjoined yesterday NYSC workers and members to be neutral before and during the coming general elections.

    He stressed the need for the workers to guide the corps members in the discharge of their electoral duties.

    Olawunmi, who was represented by the Director of Corps Welfare and Inspectorate, Mr. Michael Ahile, at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Inspectors Development Training Programme for Southwest states, held at the Ogun State orientation camp, Sagamu, said the scheme would train workers to ensure the safety of corps members.

  • Wikki will maintain league status—Chindo

    Wikki will maintain league status—Chindo

    Wikki Tourists chairman, Sulaiman Chindo is optimistic that his club will campaign in the Globacom Premier League next season.

    Two goals from Solomon Jabason and Alaba Sakin gave the Bauchi-based side a 2-1 win over Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in a week 25 Globacom League game on Wednesday. Taofik Adepoju pulled one back for the Oluyole Warriors.

    The win over 3SC moved Bauchi out of the relegation zone.

    An elated Chindo told SportingLife that his team will gain enough points to stay up.

    “We are still focused and not distracted. The win is a boost for the team. We know what is expected of the team and we will continue to do it,” he told SportingLife.

    “The management and the players know that every game is important and all hands are on deck to see the club out of this problem.

    “We are confident of the team’s survival and, Insha Allah, we will get all the points needed for the survival. We will play in the league next season, Insha Allah.”

  • Kano Pillars maintain top spot

    Kano Pillars maintained their leadership of Nigeria league with an emphatic 4-0 home win over Gombe United on Wednesday.

    Pillars now have 31 points from 16 matches, while Gombe United have 22 points.

    Pillars coach Mohammed Babaganaru told MTNFootball.com they deserved to win as they stay on course to retain their championship.

    “It was a good result, we worked for it and we got it. We have our target which is to defend our title successfully. We will keep taking the games as they come, one after the other,” Babaganaru told MTNFootball.com

    Manir Ubale and Promise James scored in quick succession in the 20th and 22nd minutes to give Pillars a 2-0 lead.

    Rabiu Ali made it 3-0 in the 66th minute to take his goal haul to six this season, before Buhari Musa completed the demolition in the 79th minute.

    In Ilorin, ABS pounded six-time league champions Enyimba 3-0.

    ABS now have 19 points from 16 matches, while Enyimba have 22 points.

    The Ilorin outfit opened scoring through Stone Evbawien in the 23rd minute, before the team’s leading scorer Ichull Lordson made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Ajibola Otegbeye was brought down by the Enyimba goalkeeper in the 70th minute.

    Three minutes later, Sala Abiodun took the game beyond Enyimba with the third goal.

    Ichull now has four goals this season.

  • Maintain Okere’s legacy, Ajimobi urges Saki people

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has urged the people of Saki to maintain the legacy of peace left behind by the late Okere of Saki, Oba Olatoyese Kelani Olarinre II.

    He spoke at the funeral of the monarch, who died on Friday.

    Ajimobi said the late Oba Olarinre’s contribution to the peace and development of Saki and the state could not be quantified.

    He urged the kingmakers to ensure that the selection of another Okere does not lead to crisis in the town.

    In his sermon, an Islamic cleric, Alhaji Kabir Olohunlase, urged people in positions of authority to impact positively on the lives of the masses.

    His Christian counterpart, Rev. Bamgbala Adika, said the protracted rift between Saki and Oyo was amicably settled during the reign of the late Oba Olarinre.

    The Oyo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) commiserated with Ajimobi and the people of Saki on the monarch’s death.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN said: “While we are still grappling with the passing away of Chief Bayo Akinnola, Apostle Timothy Obadare and Chief Oluwole Awolowo, death came calling again and took away Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Olayinka and Oba Olarinre in their prime.

    “May God grant his family and subjects the fortitude to bear the loss. We also prayed for the repose of his soul.”

    Saki West Local Government Chairman Dapo Popoola said was with the monarch for several hours last Wednesday.

    Popoola said the monarch told him to sustain the peace in the community.

    “I did not know Kabiyesi was bidding us farewell”, he said.

    Popoola said: “He was full of life when I chatted with him two days before his demise. There was no sign of any illness. Immediately I returned from Ibadan that day, I went to see him and we were together for hours, speaking about the town’s development and related issues.

    “Later I learnt that Kabiyesi was taken to the hospital after complaining of weakness and by 2am, we received the shocking news that he had passed on. It was a rude shock.”

  • Olu Maintain features Olivia, Fatman Scoop in new singles

    Olu Maintain features Olivia, Fatman Scoop in new singles

    A FEW days after winning Best Reggae Video of The Year at the just concluded Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) with the artistic Nawti video, Olumide Adegbulu, popularly known as Olu Maintain, has released two new songs featuring two popular America artistes, Olivia and Fatman Scoop.

    Olu indeed had an eventful 2012. His last single, Nawti, was one of the most popular songs of 2012. The song won him several awards including Best Video of The Year at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in New-York and Best Reggae/Dancehall Video of the year at Nigeria Music Video Awards.

    Olu is sure ready for greater exploits in 2013 with the release of two songs in the beginning of 2013. The two songs are titled Hypnotise and Oya Dancia. Hypnotise which he did with Olivia has been tipped to be a classic collaboration and one of the songs that will rule the airwaves in 2013. Oya Dancia is a party starter DJs definitely can’t resist with the influence of Fatman Scoop on the song.

    Speaking concerning the new songs, Olu said it is high time he dropped something new. “It’s public knowledge that Nawti was well accepted, and even till now the song is still in hot demand. I’ve been getting lots of calls and messages from friends and fans asking me when I’ll be releasing my next singles and I thank them all for the love. The two songs I’m releasing now are part of the songs on my album titled Chosen One and I’m very sure lots of people will enjoy it as much as they enjoyed Nawti. There can’t be a better way to start 2013.”