The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NATIONAL MIRROR

  • Apapa: Broken national mirror

    Apapa: Broken national mirror

    WHEN His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode appointed me the Chairman Wharf Landing Fees Collecting Authority, I was excited to have been given another challenge and opportunity to explore another critical sector in the economy of Lagos State. I was happy because I like great challenges but the Apapa situation and the horrible traffic chaos scared me stiff. My friends and associates called to celebrate with me but added a proviso that traffic in Apapa may be a big stumbling block.

    I have gone to Apapa to see things for myself. In search for a new office complex for the Authority, I came face to face with trouble in Apapa and Tincan Island Ports. Apapa, the goose that has been laying the golden eggs lies in ruins in the midst of plenty. The two national mirrors are broken into pieces, mercilessly plundered and ruthlessly pillaged. I lack words to describe these two great ports, the largest in the country except to add that our past leaders are wicked, irresponsible and totally heartless. They must have travelled severally to different parts of the world. They must have seen their seaports and the state of art infrastructure available. I have seen the ones in China, US and Singapore. Our leaders have returned to continue the business as usual. After all, to have ears is not to listen, to listen is not to hear, to hear is not to understand, to understand is not to put to practice.

    What of the big Managing Directors and CEOs of blue chip companies, the Customs, the Ship owners, the Shippers Council, the Ship owners, the business magnets etc who do business in Apapa and Tincan Island ? For years they have been making trillions at the ports but lack the capacity and capability to look through the windows of their cars and offices to see the ruins and the devastations around the ports. If they cannot collectively repair roads through Corporate Social Responsibility, what stops them from drawing the attention of the Federal Government which takes all the money from the ports? It pains me to no end that people with full dose of western education who should know better turn out to be the problem because they have refused to do what is right.

    The pandemic problems we have in Lagos ports remain an indictment to all of us, the political leaders, managers of blue chip companies, business managers etc. If we cannot work hard to develop this country for our young ones and generations yet unborn, let us accept the obvious and painful truth that we have all failed. No wonder the Republican Presidential candidate in the United States, Donald Trump described African leaders as meretricious mediocrity, empty heads and ethical failures. But how did we get into this dead end in Apapa? Both Apapa and Tincan Island ports have only two major ingress and egress – Apapa-Tincan-Mile Two-Oshodi expressway and Apapa-Ijora-Western Avenue axis and nothing more. Despite the growing business in these two major ports, the two roads have remained the same for nearly 50 years.

    To demonstrate how wicked, hopeless and helpless our leaders have been, even the two roads have been left to decay for years. The racket called the importation of petroleum products led to the massive building of Tank farms in Apapa. Today all the petrol products trucks head to Apapa and what we see is chaos all the way. The Europeans who built Apapa Wharf knew then that only the rail system will be suitable for evacuating the containers leaving the roads free for other users. The rail system that runs from Apapa to different parts of the country lies in ruins and today trucks moving containers out of Apapa and Tincan Island remain the biggest problem. People have been killed by container-laden trucks, vehicles and bridges destroyed. We need to restore the rail system in Apapa as a matter of urgency. We must also have the courage to move the tank farms away from Apapa. We must make our refineries to work to stop the importation of petroleum products.

    Another biggest problem is the concession of the ports few years back by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to private individuals. These concessionaires soon converted the huge truck parks in Apapa Wharf and Tin-can Island to places where empty containers are parked for years. Consequently, the parks which are capable of housing 3000 trucks at any given time have been rendered useless. Today, trucks use highways as parking lots constituting monumental traffic problems and robberies in the metropolis. The roads and volume of trucks that go in and out of Apapa on a daily basis have ruined Apapa GRA. Residents of Apapa GRA have left in droves. There are so many houses for sale and many to rent but no buyers and even those to rent. Roads, drainage systems, security, orderliness have been crushed in Apapa beyond imagination. It is that bad. Situations in Apapa should prick the conscience of any responsible and responsive Nigerian. No strangers from other lands came to destroy the peace and serenity of Apapa. Our leaders destroyed Apapa. They took everything in Apapa and left nothing. They plundered, pillaged Apapa and did nothing to add value to Apapa. Estate developers are counting their losses in Apapa. They are the worst losers. When leaders fail to do their job, everybody goes down.

    Thank God our own Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu has risen up in the hallowed chamber of the Senate o to draw our attention to the broken national mirror called Apapa. Governor Ambode has been intervening and proffering solutions. Thank God President Buhari is on the seat. It is either we build Nigeria or we perish.

    Apapa remains a big challenge to all of us. We cannot be taking trillions from Apapa every year without giving anything in return. Federal Government owns Apapa GRA, Apapa Wharf and Tin-can Island. We want concrete actions now not idle talks.

    Revenues from the oil sector is dwindling and it behoves on all our leaders to be pro-active and hyper active now in looking at the alternative sources of revenue. Our ports in Lagos offer an alternative and may we not joke with this. Restoring the rail system, rebuilding the road networks, creating additional access roads and rehabilitating Apapa GRA is the way to go at least for now. We need to quickly create additional roads to Apapa Wharf and Tin-can Island no matter the cost to the existing two ways in and out of Apapa. Houses may be demolished to achieve this. We need to look for the funds and do the needful now or never.

     

  • Owoade: A national mirror is broken

    Owoade: A national mirror is broken

    It was one year ago on July 21, 2015 when a legendary teacher and consummate administrator, Prince Bashiru Olayiwola Owoade, died.

    The imminence of Prince Owoade’s demise was not hidden from the few close friends and relations; but that it took about one year for some of his admirers, including this writer, to learn of the tragedy, suggests that the man did not get even a percentage of his well deserved rewards.

    Even in death, Owoade should be treated like a king, not just for his accident of birth into the royalty, but for the enviable way he impacted the life of those who came across him in his career. Many would have loved that he was flown abroad for the best of medical, despite being aerophobic.

    Prince Owoade, in the Muslim tradition, was interred without fanfare in his Oyo hometown. Owoade was 74 years and to the best of my knowledge of him, felt fulfilled in life.

    This reasoning derives from the yet-to-be matched record as one who midwifed one of the best public secondary schools-Lagos State Model College, Kankon – Badagry Kankon, with him as the pioneer principal. For almost 20 years that he sojourned in that rural terrain, he made sterling waves not only in Lagos State but also in Nigeria.

    I had some encounters with Owoade as Principal of Kankon Model College when I was editing the Lagos State Government-owned Lagos Horizon (later renamed Eko Today). We designed an interview platform for the principals of model colleges in the state to ascertain whether the scheme was on course in accordance with the aspirations of their founder – Navy Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mike Okhai Akhigbe, when he was military administrator of Lagos State.

    The governor had designed a model college for each of the five divisions in Lagos State, though with Ikorodu Division having two, the sixth was tagged Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo. The Badagry slot was set in the rural town of Kankon some eight kilometre northwest of Badagry town. The model schools were located in serene rural setting to enhance teaching and learning. The Akhigbe administration combed the state secondary school environments for the best hands to drive the novelty and the lot for Kankon fell on Owoade, then principal in a secondary school in Alimosho Local Government.

    The interview team I led to Kankon unanimously concluded that Owoade was far ahead of all others in virtually all aspects of college administration. Using the Parents’ Forum and other external channels, Kankon moved ahead to add more structures to the modest ones provided by the Akhigbe administration, thus making significant impact on the skyline of the school. The college had a mini-zoo with animals as chimpanzees, alligator, peacocks and a fish pond.

    Kankon won many Lagos State and national laurels in the areas of national secondary school competitions and the principal was selected ‘Principal of the Year’ for as long as his name was on the list of contestants until he decided to step aside for others to have a feel of the coziness.

    After the interview, Owoade was generous to a fault with the four-man team-Kunle Abimbola, Akin Obasa and Ayoade Giwa who once worked under Owoade as teacher. The principal was not pretending. He was merely being himself.

    In 1998, I wanted my 10-year-old daughter, Omowunmi, in Kankon Model College but curiously she was off the cut-off mark. I gave up until a chance meeting with Owoade. I told him my disappointment but he said it was reversible. Kankon became the abode of my daughter for the ensuing six years.

    As NCE teacher at LAFROGRAMS, Oba taught English Language and History with such passion and dedication that ensured 100 percent passes in those subjects year-in-year-out. In 1979, Owoade secured a leave with pay to study for combined honours degree in the two subjects.

    Owoade had golden opportunity to make himself rich but he bluntly refused. Mr Abdulganiy Omolaja Jolaoso, Owode’s student who supplied more than enough information for this piece, said Owoade disappointed his friends and associates who persuaded him to establish a private secondary school for self actualisation in view of the golden success that greeted his administration in public schools.

    He would say of himself: I was born a teacher; I remain a teacher; I will remain a teacher. If I come back to this world, I will come as a teacher.

    How true is that assertion? Omowunmi, mentioned earlier, who has proceeded to earn a master’s degree in Chemistry, said: “Though I didn’t meet him as teacher, he had a way of impacting knowledge to us and this was by means of the part he took in the Monday and Friday assemblies. Every Monday, he had a part which he tagged: News Extra enlightening us, mostly boarders, on the happenings around the world. On Fridays was another programme code-named: English par Excellence, which addressed common errors in English thus assisting in many ways to improve our proficiency in the language.

    “He had zero tolerance for truancy as all academic activities were taken seriously and promptly. He ensured that all the teachers carried out their work dutifully. He discouraged roaming, hiring retired soldiers to enforce discipline. He also set aside moments for meditation which was set for Monday afternoons. After the prep of that day, we always had a silent hour when we would lay on our outspread wrappers in the open field to meditate for one hour. This, no doubt, infused in us the need for seriousness in life.

    Owoade was born on April 20, 1940 into one of the royal families in Oyo. He was born to Prince Sanni Akee Owoade and Mrs. Nimotallahi Tanimowo of the Agunloye royal family. He left the primary school system in 1954, attended the Local Authority Modern School Oyo before undergoing an NCE programme at the University of Lagos. His passion for teaching profession spurred him to reject an offer as broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation.

    His oratory prowess and impeccable English recommended Owoade as the official orator of the Badagry arm of the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and for many years was a moderator at many Lagos State Ministry of Education functions.

    As a philanthropist of note, his home and office were Mecca of sort.  He impinged positively on the lives of youths who came his way, which was why one of the sets of Kankon Model College demonstrated its love and profound appreciation for their mentor by presenting him with a brand new Toyota car while he was still alive. Many would have loved to do more but for the man’s aversion to receiving syndrome.

     

    Akin Owolabi is a former Editor, Eko Today Newspaper

     

    t was one year ago on July 21, 2015 when a legendary teacher and consummate administrator, Prince Bashiru Olayiwola Owoade, died.

    The imminence of Prince Owoade’s demise was not hidden from the few close friends and relations; but that it took about one year for some of his admirers, including this writer, to learn of the tragedy, suggests that the man did not get even a percentage of his well deserved rewards.

    Even in death, Owoade should be treated like a king, not just for his accident of birth into the royalty, but for the enviable way he impacted the life of those who came across him in his career. Many would have loved that he was flown abroad for the best of medical, despite being aerophobic.

    Prince Owoade, in the Muslim tradition, was interred without fanfare in his Oyo hometown. Owoade was 74 years and to the best of my knowledge of him, felt fulfilled in life.

    This reasoning derives from the yet-to-be matched record as one who midwifed one of the best public secondary schools-Lagos State Model College, Kankon – Badagry Kankon, with him as the pioneer principal. For almost 20 years that he sojourned in that rural terrain, he made sterling waves not only in Lagos State but also in Nigeria.

    I had some encounters with Owoade as Principal of Kankon Model College when I was editing the Lagos State Government-owned Lagos Horizon (later renamed Eko Today). We designed an interview platform for the principals of model colleges in the state to ascertain whether the scheme was on course in accordance with the aspirations of their founder – Navy Captain (later Vice Admiral) Mike Okhai Akhigbe, when he was military administrator of Lagos State.

    The governor had designed a model college for each of the five divisions in Lagos State, though with Ikorodu Division having two, the sixth was tagged Civil Service Model College, Igbogbo. The Badagry slot was set in the rural town of Kankon some eight kilometre northwest of Badagry town. The model schools were located in serene rural setting to enhance teaching and learning. The Akhigbe administration combed the state secondary school environments for the best hands to drive the novelty and the lot for Kankon fell on Owoade, then principal in a secondary school in Alimosho Local Government.

    The interview team I led to Kankon unanimously concluded that Owoade was far ahead of all others in virtually all aspects of college administration. Using the Parents’ Forum and other external channels, Kankon moved ahead to add more structures to the modest ones provided by the Akhigbe administration, thus making significant impact on the skyline of the school. The college had a mini-zoo with animals as chimpanzees, alligator, peacocks and a fish pond.

    Kankon won many Lagos State and national laurels in the areas of national secondary school competitions and the principal was selected ‘Principal of the Year’ for as long as his name was on the list of contestants until he decided to step aside for others to have a feel of the coziness.

    After the interview, Owoade was generous to a fault with the four-man team-Kunle Abimbola, Akin Obasa and Ayoade Giwa who once worked under Owoade as teacher. The principal was not pretending. He was merely being himself.

    In 1998, I wanted my 10-year-old daughter, Omowunmi, in Kankon Model College but curiously she was off the cut-off mark. I gave up until a chance meeting with Owoade. I told him my disappointment but he said it was reversible. Kankon became the abode of my daughter for the ensuing six years.

    As NCE teacher at LAFROGRAMS, Oba taught English Language and History with such passion and dedication that ensured 100 percent passes in those subjects year-in-year-out. In 1979, Owoade secured a leave with pay to study for combined honours degree in the two subjects.

    Owoade had golden opportunity to make himself rich but he bluntly refused. Mr Abdulganiy Omolaja Jolaoso, Owode’s student who supplied more than enough information for this piece, said Owoade disappointed his friends and associates who persuaded him to establish a private secondary school for self actualisation in view of the golden success that greeted his administration in public schools.

    He would say of himself: I was born a teacher; I remain a teacher; I will remain a teacher. If I come back to this world, I will come as a teacher.

    How true is that assertion? Omowunmi, mentioned earlier, who has proceeded to earn a master’s degree in Chemistry, said: “Though I didn’t meet him as teacher, he had a way of impacting knowledge to us and this was by means of the part he took in the Monday and Friday assemblies. Every Monday, he had a part which he tagged: News Extra enlightening us, mostly boarders, on the happenings around the world. On Fridays was another programme code-named: English par Excellence, which addressed common errors in English thus assisting in many ways to improve our proficiency in the language.

    “He had zero tolerance for truancy as all academic activities were taken seriously and promptly. He ensured that all the teachers carried out their work dutifully. He discouraged roaming, hiring retired soldiers to enforce discipline. He also set aside moments for meditation which was set for Monday afternoons. After the prep of that day, we always had a silent hour when we would lay on our outspread wrappers in the open field to meditate for one hour. This, no doubt, infused in us the need for seriousness in life.

    Owoade was born on April 20, 1940 into one of the royal families in Oyo. He was born to Prince Sanni Akee Owoade and Mrs. Nimotallahi Tanimowo of the Agunloye royal family. He left the primary school system in 1954, attended the Local Authority Modern School Oyo before undergoing an NCE programme at the University of Lagos. His passion for teaching profession spurred him to reject an offer as broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation.

    His oratory prowess and impeccable English recommended Owoade as the official orator of the Badagry arm of the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and for many years was a moderator at many Lagos State Ministry of Education functions.

    As a philanthropist of note, his home and office were Mecca of sort.  He impinged positively on the lives of youths who came his way, which was why one of the sets of Kankon Model College demonstrated its love and profound appreciation for their mentor by presenting him with a brand new Toyota car while he was still alive. Many would have loved to do more but for the man’s aversion to receiving syndrome.

     

    Akin Owolabi is a former Editor, Eko Today Newspaper

     

     

  • Affront to, not ‘on’

    NATIONAL MIRROR front and inside pages of September 11 welcome us today: “Again, Mark assures on state creation” Who did he assure?

    “…but fails woefully (abysmally) in giving concrete evidences of such claims.”

    “NAHCO, last week, flagged off (began) the airlift of pilgrims….”

    “It is an affront on (to) this nation for a foreigner to come out with….”

    “Man charged to court for (with) rape”

    “Banks survive regulatory stress         test amidst (amid) tense corporate governance challenges” (BUSINESS WEEK, September 8)

    “More than 4.3 million Nigerians ported to our network shortly after the flag off (sic) (inauguration) of the Mobile Number Portability….” (Source: as above)

    THE NATION ON SUNDAY COMMENT (EDITORIAL) of September 7 displayed grammatical hypocrisy: “The president should call the group to order for double standards (standard) and flouting our laws”

    “In times like this” Either in times like these or a time like this

    THISDAY, Saturday, September 6 edition, contained copious errors right from its front page: “Ebola: After assessing threat, FG re-opens (reopens) schools September 22”

    “Rangers’ boss picks holes on 3SC” I also pick my own holes in (not on) this headline.

    “TIME Magazine commends Nigeria over (for/on) containment”

    “…was the outcome of the series of meeting (meetings)”

    “Assure (Assure Nigerians) Boko Haram will be defeated”

    “The source said further that…are (were) now firmly in control of the military.”

    Ebola scare in Delta as FMC cordons-off (cordons off) emergency ward”

    “…the population of the estate has increased considerable (considerably)

    Finally from THISDAY under review: “Heat free (Heat-free) curls”

    SATURDAY INDEPENDENT of September 6 circulated a potpourri of misapprehensions: “Jonathan’s administration is been (being) sabotaged, says cleric”

    “Irri community seeks for support” Yank off ‘for’

    Wrong: electioneering campaign; Right: electioneering or campaign

    “Keshi clamours for Nigerians (Nigerians’) support” (SPORTINGLIFE, September 4)

    National Mirror of September 4 disseminated a few solecisms starting with this banner: “CNS indicts major oil companies in (for/on) oil theft”

    NATIONAL MIRROR Editorial of September 4 ignited some lexical crises: “…that the police was (were) supporting the impeached speaker of the House….”

    “…at the expense of majority (the majority) of other members of the House”

    “He said the police cannot (could not) be dragged into the mess….”

    “Underfunding, bane to (of) poly education”

    Still on National Mirror under focus: “…incessant strikes actions….” Education Today: incessant strikes

    “Truancy among professors and other senior academic staff often percolate (percolates) down the academic hierarchy….”

    “Modibbo meets delegates, promises all inclusive (all-inclusive) government”

    “Obiazor relishes Super Eagles (Eagles’) call-up”

    “Group insists PDP, APC should pick Christian (Christians) as flag bearers”

    “We express these fears, knowing fully well the nature of ….” This amounts to ill-treatment of the English language. Right: knowing full well.

    “…believed to have the largest oil bloc (highest number of oil blocks) in Africa….”

    “Rather, it rehashed old consciousness already canvassed….” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY COMMENT, August 31) You cannot rehash new consciousness

    Wrong: last minute change; Right: last-minute change

    “…is seeking to govern Kwara State under the PDP ticket” Politics: on the PDP ticket

    “The Nigerian bond market hitherto an exclusive preserve of blue-chip companies have (has)….”

    POLITICAL ECONOMY of August comes next: “Jitters in Nigeria as Italy (Italian) prosecutors open probe into Malabu Oil deal”

    “What is good for the goose can’t be bad for the gander. “ I do not understand the use of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ instead of ‘sauce’ in this instance.

    “…but LifeStyle will not hesitate to remind you about (sic) one of the qualifying criterion for this jamboree…” Singular: criterion plural: criteria. And, ‘remind you of…’

    “An alleged hike in school fees has created a row between the management and the Parents Association (PTA) of….” PTA means Parent-Teacher Association.

    “The donation of vehicles and communication gadgets provide a good beginning.” The donation… provides.

    “Fear of robbers keep lawyers away from courts” Fear of robbers keeps….

    FEEDBACK

    Please note that English is one-one standard English. There is NOT a separate language for the surveyor, the engineer, another for the lawyer, another for the bank manager, another for the Town Clerk, another still for the candidates at an examination in English, hence writing “firstly”, “secondly, e.g Secondly, one of your contributors to that edition should have said… “thirdly”, etc, in the 21st century, is considered bad solecism. Let’s ask, Will Nigeria Be the Death of English? In modern English, it is “First”, “Second”,” Third”,etc.

    “Specie”, meaning “coined money” or “money in coin”, has no plural form.

    Some idioms break the rules of grammar but they cannot be tampered with as they are fixed by usage. For example, “twice”, like “thrice”, is very old-fashioned but “think twice” (cannot be changed to “think two times”); “once or twice”; “Once bitten, twice shy” (NOT “two times shy”).

    Another note: In modern usage, “all hands on deck” is construed as meaning “Everyone should be on duty” while “All hands to the pump” is construed as meaning “Everyone should help”.

    “Strike action” still survives as an archaism in the dictionary. “Industrial action”, or “strike”, is the preferred term.

    There is no “traditional wedding” but traditional marriage”. The traditional marriage is Africa’s conventional or native marriage whereby the groom pays bride price to the parents of the bride. I repeat, “at about”, “about” is preferred in modern English. E,g. I will call for you about nine o’clock (NOT “at about nine o’clock”). More power to your elbow!

    (Bayo Oguntunase/Language activist /Adoro62@yahoo.co.uk)

  • Every nook and cranny

    NATIONAL MIRROR Front Page Lead Story blunders of June 5 welcome us this week: “Christians and Muslims have been killing each other (one another) over series (a series) of attacks by the Islamic militants, Boko Haram.”

    The Views Page of the above medium collects the baton in perpetuation of solecisms: “Our level of humanity and development should be measured by our strict adherent (adherence) to the spirit and letters of democracy (sic).” Existential humanism: the spirit of the law or the letter of the law (democracy in this application).”

    “…states that didn’t have universities now have ones.” Yank off the last word in the extract.

    “…but violence arising there from (sic) never lasted more than few (a few) hours.”

    “A desperate decease (disease) requires a desperate cure.”

    “In its absent (absence), the state is a failed one.”

    Even the Editorial of the paper under review consolidated the front page infraction: “…the latest in series (a series) of coups that have punctuated modern Thai history.”

    “IATA urges governments, operators to tackle passengers (passengers’) excesses”

    “FG tasks Nigerians on climate change induced (change-induced) activities”

    “Chicken Republic commissions (inaugurates) central kitchen”

    “FCT minister’s wife distributes items to destitutes” Community Mirror: the destitute (noun and plural). Please note that ‘destitute’ is an adjective.

    Finally from the Back Page of NATIONAL MIRROR under focus which withheld some etymological facts: “…the former GMD of Zenith Bank resumed (assumed) office as the new governor of CBN….” I cannot understand this elementary goof! If Lamido Sanusi had returned it would have been ‘resumption’—not the instant case.

    “The flurry of activities (activity) that day prompted the acting governor….”

    “Associated to (with) this is the….”

    “It will specifically serve to identify those transacting business with Automated Teller Machines (ATM) (ATMs) and Point of Sales (Sale) (PoS) machines.”

    From DAILY Sun EDITORIAL of June 2 comes the next gaffe: “…that has potentials (potential or potentialities) to rev up the economy and create jobs.”

    “In the next 10 days or thereabout….” (DAILY Sun Back Page, June 2) Voice of The Nation: thereabouts

    “Reps passes 2014 budget (sic)” Get it right: House of Reps passes or Reps pass 2014 Budget”

    “Saraki picks hole (holes) in passed 2014 budget (sic)”

    “…etched his name on marble on (in) many thorny cases, both constitutional and in various other areas of the profession.”

    “World Bank cat and mouse game with Nigeria” Get it right adjectivally:  cat-and-mouse game

    “…flattering the country’s potentials” Again, ‘potential’ is non-count, unlike ‘potentiality’.

    From DAILY Sun of April 11 we move back to its March 31 edition: “NOSDRA boss commends JTF over (for/on) arrest of oil thieves”

    “Not surprisingly (Unsurprisingly), when it comes to Nigeria’s recent and not so recent (not-so-recent) history….” (OPINION Page)

    “The Ministry of Youth and Development created by the federal government only concentrates on the high profile overaged Nigerian youths….” Not a challenge: overage Nigerian youths.

    “Like a bad dream, the sore issue of fuel scarcity has refused to go away, posing serious (a serious) challenge to commuters and motorists.”

    Next is DAILY Sun of April 2: “Oshiomhole commissions (auspicates, inaugurates…) Dawson-Uselu road in Benin”

    “20-year-old man remanded in prison for raping a minor” A rewrite: 20-year-old man remanded for raping minor

    “…it is scandalous to learn that the Federal Government plans to import electricity into Nigeria from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a much smaller and less endowed African country.” (EDITORIAL) Please delete ‘into Nigeria’ to avoid lexical shame!

    “…lead to a blind ally (alley).” (Source: as above)

    “A progressive who believed in the good of majority (the majority) over the opulence of minority (the minority).” (OPINION Page) Additionally, this is a hanging sentence!

    “…has not hidden her grouse on (about) the role played by America and the West in the disintegration of the former Russian federation.” (Source: as above)

    “…it is admittedly near impossible for anyone of voting age not to hold an opinion one way or the other (one way or another).” (OPINION Page)

    “Owing to lack of support funding, the centre could not survive after few (a few) years.” (Another OPINION Page extract)

    “Death for jobs latest” Abuja Metro: Death-for-jobs latest

    “Ekiti agog as Fayemi flags (kicks) off re-election campaign”

    The March edition of POLITICAL ECONOMIST spread a few slip-ups: “The sight of a man, probably in his early fifties, raging at a staff (an employee/a worker) of a bank right inside thee banking hall….”

    “…all may not be well with the use of ATM afterall (after all).”

    “Customs raises alarm (the alarm) over fake auction papers syndicate”

    “Gates said he will (would) closely advise new Microsoft Chief Executive….”

    “…the nook and crannies of the country….” Fixed/stock (informal) expression: every nook and cranny (no pluralism or modification)!

    Lastly from the monthly publication: “…who only see their appointments as a money making (money-making) venture.”

    Let us welcome SATURDAY Sun of March 29 to this edition: “…there is the additional tradition of ferrying loots abroad.” (OPINION Page) ‘Loot’ is uncountable.

    “…said it uncovered late (the late) Gen. Sani Abacha’s loot of….” (Still on OPINION Page)

    “I was also given a ring and an handkerchief among other things I cannot mention here.” Life & Living: a handkerchief, a hotel, a European….

    “I love seeing smile on people’s face.” Style Cover: people’s faces

    “Kiddies world” (Logo) Get it right: Kiddies’ World

    Wrong: Last but not the least; right: last but not least

  • University of Ibadan, others…

    University of Ibadan, others…

    NATIONAL MIRROR of September 27 offered its readers four kindergarten flaws: “Nigeria’s nuclear energy drive: An historical milestone” This is old school! New order: a historical milestone.

    “National Assembly passes confidence vote on (in) Gov Aliyu”

    “NIJ Alumni holds (hold) national convention in Abeokuta”

    “Yakowa commended over (on/upon) N3bn monthly IGR target”

    DAILY SUN of September 26 circulated many faults: “Excess crude suit: Again, FG opts for out of court settlement” Any medium that does not know the importance of hyphenation remains a professional toddler: out-of-court settlement

    “The line up from Anambra North” As 2015 approaches: line-up

    “A night of Caribean and Latino Groove dance at MTN PFWA Season 5” Spell-check: Caribbean

    “Police contractors debt: Its dangers to Nigerian economy” Policing grammar: contractors’ debt

    “Banks get guidelines for agriculture lending, banking priciples (sic)” Banking—a euphemism for fraud in Nigeria: agricultural lending

    Lastly from DAILY SUN: “The DG of SEC Arunma Oteh and her workers have, for the third time since her second coming (return) as the chief executive, gone for each others jugular.” Delectable and brilliant lady: each other’s jugular. Beyond the faux pas pointed out, I am uncomfortable with the entire collocation!

    The Guardian Editorial of September 25 blundered: “In contemporary history, acquisition of these rights bestows crude oil royalties into (on/upon) the public purse and fuels pre-bendal politics…..” Furthermore, the context of ‘bestow’ here is suspect.

    “The University of Ibadan, Ibadan, wishes you all many more years of greater accomplishments and service to humanity. May your stars never deem (sic!).” (Full-page advert in The PUNCH of September 21 by the university and signed by the Registrar, Olujimi Olukoya, MNIM, FPA) For the sake of Council, Senate, Congregation, Staff and Students of this foremost citadel, replace ‘deem’ with ‘dim’.

    Yet another faulty congratulatory advert: “A well deserved (well-deserved) honour: This is a great testimony of (to) your great achievements….” (Copy by Lagos University Teaching Hospital)

    And these extracts from Lead City University, Ibadan: “Knowledge for self reliance. Post UTME screening for…being an ICT driven institution….” (Full-page advert signed by the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Oyebola O. Ayeni, MNIM, MIMC) Three things: self-reliance, Post-UTME screening and ICT-driven institution. What is going on in our tertiary centres of learning?

    Lastly from The PUNCH under review: “This also confirms your position as one of the most accomplished entrepreneur (sic) both locally and on the international scene.” (Final full-page congratulatory advert by 11 senior bankers for Dr. Mike Adenuga, GCON) Consolidated award to a trailblazer: one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs. It’s only deposits (and false lifestyles) bankers know!

    National Mirror of September 20 mixed grammar with politics: “CAN asks NJC to intervene on (in) Adamawa poll petition”

    “There are many areas on (in) which lawmaking may be employed as tool (a tool) for development.”

    “Besides, the level of neglect the region has suffered in the anal (sic) of Nigerian history is phenomenal.” The quest for Igbo presidency: annals. I have been ‘coerced’ by Messrs Bayo Oguntuase and Sunny Agbontaen into grudgingly accepting the co-occurrence of ‘annals’ and ‘history’ in the same lexical environment!

    Lastly from National Mirror: “…is one of the leading media planning and strategist in Nigeria.” Brands and marketing: one of the leading media planners and strategists in Nigeria.

    “Universities and polytechnics, which are still struggling to consolidate the programmes at (on) the main campus, have no business setting up study centres elsewhere.”

    “Are we not betraying Zik’s message of being our brothers’ keepers when we….” Our hero: brother’s keeper (irrespective of plurality—because of its fixed/stock form).

    “In spite of the AIDS disaster in (on) the continent.…”

    “As a young man in his 20s, the late Enahoro moved the historic motion demanding for Nigeria’s independence in 1956.” A consensus: delete ‘for’ in the interest of orderliness.

    “…the physical, material and psychological damages have to be addressed.” ‘Damage’ is uncountable except in legalese.

    “If he had at that time kept mute and outrightly conceded victory….” This way: and conceded victory outright.

    “In the final analysis, how far the products of refineries conform to stipulated standards with regards to quality will largely determine their marketability.” No poverty of expression: with regard to or as regards.

    “But I stuck to my gun….” Get it right: stick (stuck) to one’s (my) guns.

    “What jobs have we provided for those roaming about the streets….?” Remove ‘about’ in the interest of word economy.

    “Provide burglary proof in your house and business premises.” As Christmas draws near, a security hint: burglar (not burglary) proof.

    “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been in the news lately for two reasons, all of them uncomplimentary.” ‘Rite it right: two reasons, both (not all) of them uncomplimentary.

    “Agencies, Media Independents poise for the future” Campaign: poised for the future.

    “They wicked has done his worst” Wanted: a Failed English Panel that would function like the Justice Oputa Panel. Before then, the wicked (wicked persons) have done their worst.

    “…both our future and that of our offsprings are in jeopardy.” Lest we jeopardize the language: ‘offspring’ is uncountable.

    “It is important for all the designated banks to understand from the onset that.…” To foreclose Sanusi’s autocracy: outset, not onset (going by the context of the extract).

    “For one, it is usually a universally accepted truth that when certain events and incidences, which do concern us directly.…” An incontrovertible fact: events and incidents.