The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NAN

  • ‘Girl-child education; a security for Nigeria’s economic prosperity’

    A legal practitioner, Mrs Bukola Okuboyejo, has advised government at all levels to invest more in the education of the girl-child to secure Nigeria’s future economic prosperity.

     

    Okuboyejo gave the advice in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos on Friday.

     

    Okuboyejo said that past advocacies for education of the girl-child had paid off with more women holding top government jobs.

     

    She said that any decline in the girl child school enrolment at this period would be counter-productive for the economy.

     

    “Before now, girl child education used to be the topic in every national, state and local government discourse on development.

     

    “But today, there seems to be less talk about the girl-child education whereas we are not there yet in terms of the ideal treatment of the girl-child in our society.

     

    “It is my submission that any success story in any sector of our economy will have the substantial contribution of women as input to such outcome,’’ she said.

     

    The lawyer told NAN that women were still suffering marginalisation from the men folk, especially in rural communities in Nigeria.

     

    “There are still communities that will not allow women emerge as leaders of social and political groups even if these women have the potential to change the fortunes of such associations.

     

    “Women are still suffering marginalisation in the workplace even if they possess the qualification, skill and ability to hold the top positions of authority.

     

    “The possibility is there that Nigeria will be able to have a woman president in the nearest future if more investment and attention is given to the education of the girl-child,’’ she said.

     

    Okuboyejo urged educators at the higher school levels to do more researches and proffer suggestions on possible ways to improve education of women in the Nigerian society.

     

    She said that Nigeria needed to adopt more home-grown theories on the education of women for their proficiency, especially in male dominated sectors.

     

    “Women are now a factor in the judiciary and some other important sectors, but are yet to be a force to reckon with in the military and paramilitary sectors of the economy,’’ she concluded.

  • 31 ships with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos

    31 ships with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos

    Thirty one ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos from April 6 to April 24.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication – `Shipping Position’, – a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    NPA explained that the expected ships contained buck wheat, empty containers, frozen fish, bulk sugar, general cargoes, containers, steel products, diesel and petrol.

    The document noted that a ship had arrived the port, waiting to berth with aviation fuel.

    NAN reports that 16 other ships are at the ports discharging general cargoes, wheat, ethanol, aviation fuel, crude palm oil, containers and petrol.

  • Make petrol available, NURTW urges FG

    Make petrol available, NURTW urges FG

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Niger on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to make petrol available at the approved rate.

    The NURTW Chairman in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Sarki, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

    He said availability of petrol at official rate would enable the union members to recoup their investment and review the current transport fares in the state.

    NAN reports that the state chapter of the union recently increased transport fares owing to non availability of fuel.

    The agency also reports that widespread scarcity had resulted in the sale of fuel at between N190 and N200 per litre at the black market.

    “We want the Federal Government to make fuel available at the approved price of N86 per litre to enable us revert to the old transport fares because passengers are complaining.

    “The current economic hardship is already having its negative effect on passengers then all of a sudden increase in transport fares.

    “So it has not been easy with our passengers and on our own side, we don’t buy only fuel to keep our vehicles going but we have to maintain them,’’ he said.

    He explained that the hike in transport fares had reduced the number of commuters per day.

    The union chairman said that transport fare from Minna to Kontagora, which used to be N900 was now N1,100 while Minna to Sokoto was now N3,500 as against N3, 000.

    Also speaking, Mrs Grace Ayuba, a fish seller in Shiroro, told NAN that she had reduced her shuttles to Minna for business from three to two times a week.

    She said the scarcity of fuel was biting hard while the price of fish had gone up, with customers complaining.

    Mr Abdullahi Isah, the Controller of the Department of Petroleum Resources in the state, told NAN that the fuel situation would normalise next week.

    “These queues you are seeing across the country will disappear because government is already doing something about it.

    “The Federal Government is doing something that I will not want to disclose now to ensure enough fuel supply in the country.
    “Hopefully by next week, there will be enough fuel supply in the country,’’ he said.

    Isah said that Niger, which was supposed to get 30 trucks of PMS per day, gets only two.

    “What we are doing right now in Niger state is to make sure that the small quantity available is not diverted but sold to the people at N86 per litre.

    “We need 30 trucks of PMS in the state to ensure enough supply but you can see that we have just two which is inadequate,’’ he said.

     

  • Photo: Chaotic fuel situation

    Photo: Chaotic fuel situation

  • 19-year-old pleads guilty to theft in Church

    19-year-old pleads guilty to theft in Church

    A 19-year-old man, Kabiru Shakiru on Thursday pleaded guilty for stealing a vehicle battery, belonging to Mr Tunde Olushi, and an amplifier, property of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Idimu, Lagos, News Agency of Nigeria {NAN} reports.

    Kabiru is standing trial on a count charge of theft before an Ejigbo Senior Magistrates’ Court, Lagos,

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Babaji Ishaku, told the court that the accused had on March 25 at 5.30 a.m. in Idimu area of Lagos committed the offence.

    He said Kabiru stole one vehicle battery valued at N15,000, property of Olushi and an amplifier valued at N20,000 belonging to Obaloluwa Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Idimu, Lagos.

    “He took the items not knowing that it would be discovered by the Church.

    “The offence contravened the provisions of Sections 278 (1) and (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011,’’ Ishaku said.

    The counsel to the accused, Prince Okey Ogbuehi prayed the court to tender justice with mercy as the accused had pleaded guilty.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Jadesola Adeyemi, however, ordered that the accused be remanded until April 18 for sentencing. 

  • Brussels airport aims for limited reopening this week

    Brussels airport aims for limited reopening this week

    Brussels airport has on Tuesday commenced a make-shift check-in area after the last week attack.

    According to News Agency of Nigeria {NAN}, a spokeswoman for Brussels Airport said this was aimed at allowing a limited restart of passenger flights in the coming days.

    She said a temporary structure had been put up to bypass the departure area that was heavily damaged when two bombs exploded there last Tuesday.

    According to her, “What we have today is a test to see whether all our procedures are in order.

    “If all requirements were met, the airport could reopen on Wednesday at the earliest, but only at a maximum capacity of 20 per cent,’’ she said.

    She explained that the tests included checking security and fire procedures, as well as operational items such as the handling of baggage and the signs in the terminal.

    The Coordinator for Brussels Airport said initially only a few flights for Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines, partly owned by Germany’s Lufthansa, would be allowed to depart.

    He said once capacity was increased, other airlines would be invited to forward their flight plans

  • Update: Buhari sacks heads of 26 government agencies

    Update: Buhari sacks heads of 26 government agencies

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the immediate disengagement of 26 chief executive officers of some government parastatals, agencies and commissions.

    A statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal, said the President approved that the most senior officers in the parastatals, agencies and councils should oversee the activities of the organizations pending the appointment of substantive CEOs.

    The government agencies affected are – Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Others are – the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

    Also affected are – Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) and Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC).

    The Bureau of Public Procurements (BPP), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Bank of Industry (BoI), National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic In Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP).

     

  • National Theatre shuts gate against FG workers

    National Theatre shuts gate against FG workers

    The management of National Theatre in Lagos on Wednesday prevented vehicles of other Federal Government agencies within the complex from gaining access to their offices.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the alternate gate used to these officers were closed by the management of the Natioal Theatre as early as 7.00 a.m.

    Other Federal government agencies within the complex include the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO)

    NAN reports that the vehicles had arrived the alternate gate leading to their offices at about 7.45 a.m, but could not gain access because the gate was locked.

    The workers, after waiting for a while, alighted from their staff buses and private cars and walked to their offices after all pleas to open the gate failed.

    This development is not new as the affected workers are often locked out, leading to loss of man hours before the gate is opened.

    One of the workers in the complex, Mr Bello Wasiu, described the situation as a disappointment, describing the decision as erratic.”

    “The national theatre is a federal establishment that houses many other federal agencies. Why should these other workers be locked out?

    “This is very bad, if everybody were like me, we will pull down this gate and continue with the case thereafter.

    “There is no reason for the gate being there at all; the management of the theatre can only fence its area.’’

    A driver, who simply identified himself as George, described the action as unreasonable and unimaginable.

    George said that the development was new as workers in APCON, NICO, NAN and other agencies have been working in the complex withut any inhibition.

    “Some of these agencies have been here for more than 30 years and we have never been prevented from entering our offices. This is official recklessnes,’’ he said.

    Another worker, Mr Isaac Ojo, said that “this kind of behaviour is bad; it will not happen in a civilised society.

    “To me, it is like the management of theatre is holding animosity against the agencies, but we are working for the same Federal Government.”

    Also a staff of APCON, who preferred anonymity, said that the current management of national theatre had never been considerate in dealing with neighbours.

    “The current management of the theatre has closed all the gates into the complex except one, but ironically the place should a place for relaxation and a public place.

    “Its management is unwittingly shutting its doors against patrons of the popular relaxation spots in the complex.

    “The theatre management may be taking these decisions in the name of security, but rather than shut all the gates, security men be posted to man the gates.

    NAN reports that all the staff buses and cars of the workers were forced to park outside the gate for hours.

    An official of the national theatre, who pleaded anonymity, said that the gate was closed to forestall security breaches within the complex.

    He said that the action was not to embarrass the affected workers.

  • NOUN students seek NYSC placement

    NOUN students seek NYSC placement

    The National Open University Students Association of Nigeria has expressed dissatisfaction in the non-participation of its members in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    The National President of the association, Mr Nelson Nwaonicha, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba yesterday.

    Nwaonicha said the non-inclusion of the graduates of the university in the NYSC programme was discriminatory.

    He said there was great pride in serving one’s country, as the NYSC gave every Nigerian graduate a sense of belonging, personal worth and recognition by one’s own nation.

    He said it would amount to abandonment and violation of the principle of federal character and integration, if a set of Nigerian students were not included in the scheme.

    Nwaonicha said the service was created to inculcate discipline in, educate and integrate the youth, regardless of their institutional, cultural and social backgrounds.

    He appealed to the National Assembly to review the Act establishing the NOUN with a view to including its graduates in the allowed age bracket in the programme.

    The national president also called on the management of the university to stop admitting students for law programmes, pending the approval of the Law School.

    He recalled that the first two sets of law graduates of the NOUN had not been admitted into the law school to be certified to practice their trade.

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  • Moemeke, First black MD of Lintas Advertising, dies

    The former managing director of Nigeria’s first advertising agency, Lintas, an offshoot of West African Publicity and a founding member of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Ifeanyi Moemeke, is dead.

    The immediate past chairman of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Lolu Akinwunmi, broke the news to our correspondent yesterday morning.

    Akinwunmi said Moemeke died on Friday night in Lagos at 82.

    Also, confirming his death, the Registrar of APCON, Alhaji Garba Bello-Kankarofi, said the daughter of the deceased informed him that the first MD of Lintas died at the time the Council planned to launch a book on the roles he played in building advertising in Nigeria.

    “He is a major industry pillar, one who produced generations of outstanding practitioners. Whatever the ad profession is today, he played a major role in shaping it,” said Akinwunmi.

    “He is the most charismatic advertising practitioner in Nigeria. He left the legacy of Lintas and started the revolution of bringing broadcaster who were like gods then into advertising.

    “People like Biodun Sobanjo, Olu Falomo and many more came from broadcasting into advertising. Moemeke set the standard. He is the Madiba of advertising. He developed personal and professional etiquettes for advertising and most of us affected by his charm will miss him,” Kankarofi said.

    The Chairman of Troyka Group, Biodun Sobanjo, described Moemeke’s death as a great loss.

    “Here was a man who defined the industry at a point in time. Although I never worked at Lintas, his managerial and professional skills as chairman/CEO resonated across agencies.

    “He was like a god, especially in the 70s and 80s. As the first chairman of the first Council of APCON, of which I was a member, he worked very hard in establishing the building blocks on which the Council was to anchor. He will be sorely missed,” Sobanjo said.

    Described as the Madiba of the Nigerian advertising, Moemeke was born on December 28, 1933.

    After an early education in Calabar, Enugu, Afikpo, Kaduna, Lagos and Benin, he proceeded to the United Kingdom where he bagged the University of London B.Sc (Hons.) in Economics in 1961.

    He returned to Nigeria the same year and joined the Western Nigeria Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

    In February 1962, he joined West Africa Publicity Ltd., the predecessor of Lintas Ltd.

    Between 1966 and 1968, Meomeke held various middle and senior management positions at Lintas including appointment as first Nigeria Client Service Group Head and first Africa General Manager of Lintas Ghana.

    In 1972, Meomeke joined the board of Lintas and with the divestment of UAC/Unilever from Lintas in 1975 was appointed Chairman, Lowes Lintas, a position he occupied till his death.

    He became President of the Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (AAPN and now Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN) in 1975 and served for seven years.