The Nation Newspaper

Tag: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

  • Educationist urges introduction of fees in Lagos public schools

    An educationist, Mrs Adebola Lawal, on Thursday urged the Lagos State Government to introduce schools fees in public schools in the state to place value on education.

    Lawal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the low level of seriousness among public school students in Lagos could be attributed to the fact that the students were not paying fees.

    She said that the attitude of parents did not help matters as they hardly monitored their wards’ academic performance nor visited the schools when needed.

    According to her, the state government has done so much for public schools by even paying fees for external examinations for public primary and secondary schools students.

    Lawal said that all these efforts of government were not being appreciated as students were often times begged to sit for external examinations paid for by government.

    “Despite government’s effort in providing the infrastructure for free, standard and quality education, parents and students are not taking advantage of the opportunities.

    “The students derive joy in playing truancy even when in school and being taught; they are busy playing watching pornography on their phones.

    “We have warned students not to bring phones to schools and when such phones are seized, you see parents coming to harass teachers in school,’’ she said.

    According to her, parents are at fault because they do not monitor their children’s performance in the school.

    “When parents are invited for Parents Teachers Forum you will only see teachers and very few parents at the meeting.

    “But if their phones are seized or the child is punished, you will see the parent coming to make trouble in school,’’ she said.

    Lawal said that parents would be serious and monitor their wards’ performance in school if government introduced school fees.

    “They will want to reap the fruit of the money invested on their children,’’ she said.

  • Physician urges reduction in consumption of canned, fatty foods

    A General Physician, Dr Tosin Olowojebutu, on Thursday advised people with high Blood Pressure (BP) not to consume canned foods and fatty or oily foods which were detrimental to their health.

     

    Olowojebutu, who is the Medical Director, Liberty-Life Hospital, Ogudu, Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that canned and fatty foods would increase blood pressure level.

     

    According to him, people should also ensure that they live and work in smoke-free environments.

     

    He described blood pressure as “the pressure at which blood pushes against ones’ vessels as blood passes through the body’’.

     

    “A normal blood pressure allows blood to flow and deliver oxygen and food to different parts of the body.

     

    “We measure blood pressure with two numbers (124/84 mmHg). The first number is called the systolic blood pressure and the second is called the diastolic blood pressure.

     

    “Systolic blood pressure is the highest blood pressure measurement and it is recorded when the heart contracts.

     

    “Diastolic blood pressure is the lowest blood pressure measurement and it is recorded when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.

     

    “The ideal blood pressure is 120/70mmHg; any figure between this and 140/90 is pre-hypertension and a call to action and lifestyle modifications, ’’ Olowojebutu said.

     

    He urged people with high blood pressure to reduce the risks associated with High BP through modification of their lifestyle.

     

    “People with high BP should be physically active for 30 to 60 minutes daily by walking, biking, swimming, dancing or any other physical activity.

     

    “They should eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products and other foods low in fat and salt,’’ Olowojebu said.

     

    He added that drinking less and keeping the body weight within a healthy range would also help to prevent and lower blood pressure.

     

    “It is important to stop smoking if one has high blood pressure.

     

    “Smoking increases the risk of developing heart problems and other diseases’’ Olowojebutu told NAN

  • Nigeria loses $700m monthly on shipment of crude oil – NISA

    The president, Nigeria Indigenous Ship Owners Association (NISA), Mr Aminu Umar, said the nation was losing 700 million dollars monthly (N137.9 billion) to dominance of crude oil shipment by foreign shipowners.

     

    Umar made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos on the sideline of the Annual General Meeting of the association.

     

    He urged the Federal Government to grant indigenous shipowners between 10 to 20 per cent allocation in lifting crude oil.

     

    The shipowner said that Nigeria was losing a huge amount of money due to the fact that the foreign shipowners had dominated the transportation of crude oil.

     

    “Almost 70 to 77 crude oil vessels load oil monthly out of Nigeria.

     

    “The foreign shipowners do not employ Nigerians and they do not pay tax.

     

    “What we are telling the Federal Government is to give us the support so that we can take at least 10 per cent of the crude oil vessels operating in Nigerian waters,“ Umar told NAN.

     

    He said that if government could give indigenous shipowners 10 per cent allocation to lift crude oil, they would create jobs for the teeming youths and would retain the proceeds in the nation’s banks.

     

    Umar said that indigenous shipowners would also pay tax which would assist the government in its responsibilities.

     

    He said that the association was ready to partner with the government to check the shortcomings in crude oil trade.

     

    Umar noted that there was zero participation by indigenous shipowners in transportation of crude oil.

     

    The shipowner said that government’s policy had not been supporting indigenous ship owner.

     

    He urged government to give indigenous shipowners maximum support and to also create a conducive environment for them to excel.

     

    Umar said that the recent changes in leadership of the maritime sector had slowed the association down in arranging meetings with both the minister of transportation and heads of maritime agencies.

     

    He said that the association would like to partner with government for proper understanding of the maritime industry as an alternative to foreign exchange challenge confronting the nation.

     

    Umar said that freight earnings through the maritime industry could be an alternative source of revenue, if government could grant at least 10 per cent of indigenous ship owners the licence to lift crude oil.

  • Telecoms’ masts not harmful – NATCOM

    The National Association of Telecommunications’ Subscribers (NATCOMS) on Wednesday allayed concerns of people living near telecoms’ masts saying that they were not harmful to human health.

     

    NATCOMS President, Deolu Ogunbanjo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Electro-Magnetic Frequency (EMF) from telecommunications’ masts was not harmful to health.

     

    “There is no substantive evidence to say that EMF from telecoms’ masts is harmful to human.

     

    “Several researches have been conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and it has come up with the conclusion that mast set up beside residential area is not harmful to human.

     

    “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has also said that telecoms’ mast has no health hazards and NCC is the most appropriate body to say anything on the matter,” he said.

     

    According to him, WHO officials visited Nigeria last year to allay the fears of citizens on the issue.

     

    Ogunbanjo noted that in other climes, masts were often set up on top of buildings in urban areas, adding that such practice would not have been possible if it had health implications.

     

    Similarly, Mr Jide Awe, an executive of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), told NAN that residents concern on the erecting of telecoms’ masts in residential areas was based on speculations.

     

    “There is no proof of health hazards, whatever people say on masts is speculation based on individual ideas.

     

    “What may actually exist is an environmental threat which is within the capacity of the regulatory agencies to deal with,” Awe said.

  • NSCDC partners Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defence

    NSCDC partners Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defence

    The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana, on Wednesday said the Corps would partner with the Ministry of Civil Defence, Russia, on capacity building.

     

    This is contained in a statement signed by Emmanuel Okeh, the Corps’ Spokesperson and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

     

    According to the statement, Gana made the remarks during a courtesy call on him by Mr Nikolay Udovichenko, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Russia to the Corps’ National Headquarters.

     

    Gana said the collaboration between the NSCDC and its Russian counterpart would grow until it reached enviable heights.

     

    He maintained that he was very desirous of moving the Corps forward, adding that he was very pleased with the positive response from Russia.

     

    The Corps helmsman noted that the Corps was in dire need of more training on disaster management and protection of critical infrastructure, as well as the Private Guard Company department.

     

    In his remarks, Mr Udovichenko, who was accompanied by Denis Bukshnaitis, his Attaché, said the Russian Federation through the Ministry of Civil Defence, Russia, was very delighted to partner with the NSCDC.

     

    Udovichenko stressed that they would ensure that the NSCDC succeeded in delivering on its mandate by providing very robust capacity building for the personnel of the Corps.

     

    He disclosed that the Russian Ministry of Civil Defence was made up of 17 functional and active departments, adding that he believed strongly that the NSCDC would benefit immensely from the partnership.

     

    The Envoy also invited the commandant-general to pay a working visit to Russia in order to visit the Russian Civil Defence and discuss as well as explore more ways in which the needs of the Corps could be met.

  • COAS decries decay of barracks infrastructure

    COAS decries decay of barracks infrastructure

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has decried the level of decay of infrastructure in Army barracks across the country.

     

    Buratai said this at the inauguration of some renovated residential accommodation for soldiers at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos.

     

    Buratai blamed the condition on long years of neglect and poor budgetary allocation to renovation and construction of barracks accommodation.

     

    “It is an unfortunate situation but over the years you can see the state of dilapidation and state of decay in the barracks.

     

    “The soldiers are staying in a very bad accommodation, it is unfortunate but these are just the measures that we are taking to address the situation and we will continue to solicit for more support from government.

     

    “The decay is enormous but thank God that in this year’s budget there is provision for barracks renovation,” he said.

     

    The chief of army staff said the present Army administration was looking inward to find solutions to the infrastructure decay in the barracks.

     

    He said the Army headquarters had commenced the renovation of ten blocks of 30 flats each at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos, as part of efforts to address the problem.

     

    Buratai added that strict measures for maintenance would be put in place to entrench maintenance culture in the barracks.

     

    He assured soldiers and officers of the present administration’s commitment to improve the welfare of their families at all times.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Army Staff has also inspected other ongoing construction of soldiers’ accommodation at the Obienu Barracks in Bauchi.

  • Police sanctions 20 officers for misconduct

    Police sanctions 20 officers for misconduct

    The Nigeria Police Force said it has sanctioned 20 officers of various ranks across the country for misconduct, following complaints from members of the public through its Complaint Response Unit (CRU) between November 2015 and March.

    The Officer in Charge of the CRU, CSP Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    “In the report we released in the first 100 days and up till now, about 20 officers with different ranks have been sanctioned across the country,’’ he said.

    Shogunle said the officers have gone through the various disciplinary procedures in the force.

    He said that between from January to March 31 the CRU received and processed 1,054 complaints from across the 36 states including the FCT.

    Shogunle said that Lagos state top the complaint chart with 239 complaints representing 22.68 per cent; FCT 190 complaints, representing 18.03 per cent; Rivers with 100 complaints or 9.49 per cent.

    He noted that the unit received only one compliant each from Ekiti, Sokoto and Yobe states, representing 0.09 per cent.

    He said that out of the number of complaints received, 899 cases were resolved and after investigation, 96 cases were discovered to be false while 59 cases were pending.

    Shogunle said that during the period under review, 21 distress calls were received by the unit.

    He said that there was a consistent decline in the number of complaints from Ebonyi, Benue, Oyo, FCT, Zamfara, Ogun, Bayelsa, Niger, Ondo and Yobe sates.

    Shogunle attributed the decline to the sanction against erring police officers that had deterred others from committing same crime.

    He said that the unit would make recommendations to the Inspector-General of Police on how to address the rising cases of complaints in some states.

    “We are still studying the reports and in the coming days we are going to make appropriate recommendations to the Inspector-General of Police on how the situation can best be addressed,’’ he said.

    He said that one of the challenges of the unit had been the inability of the unit to create more awareness among the grass roots.

    Shogunle said that basically the unit had partnered with the media to help in disseminating activities of the unit at the rural areas.

    He said that using the various police formations to create awareness would be counterproductive.

    The officer in charge said that with time most Nigerians would be aware of the existence and importance of the unit.

    He said that the establishment of the unit had minimised complaints against the police and also changed the ways members of the public interact with the police.

    “I can conveniently say that the CRU has significantly changed the way members of the public and police interact with each other,’’ he said.

    He advised members of the public to always obey the police officer and report any misconduct through the platforms provided by the unit.

     

  • Five ships laden with petrol to arrive Lagos ports

    Five ships laden with petrol to arrive Lagos ports

    Five ships laden with petrol are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos from April 12 to April 20 to improve the supply of the commodity in the country.

     

    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 Tuesday in Lagos.

     

    The document indicated that 25 other ships containing food items and other goods were being expected at the ports from April 12 to April 27.

     

    NPA explained that the expected ships contained buck wheat, soda ash, bulk gypsum, steel products, bulk sugar, general cargoes, diesel and containers.

     

    The document noted that four ships had arrived, waiting to berth with aviation fuel and petrol.

     

    NAN reports that 15 other ships are at the ports discharging general cargoes, bulk gas, diesel, frozen fish, aviation fuel and petrol.

  • 25 teams set for National Handball Premier League

    25 teams set for National Handball Premier League

    A total of 25 teams are expected to participate in the National Handball Premier League beginning on April 13 in Kaduna.

     

    John Jatau, the President, Nigerian Handball Coaches Association told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Tuesday in Kaduna that 13 male and 12 female teams would participate in the competition..

     

    He said that the league would be staged between April 13 and April 24 at the Murtala Square Handball pitch in Kaduna, adding that the event was arranged to further develop the game of handball in the country.

     

    “Handball have been a little silent since we lost sponsorship few years back, I am sure with this league, we shall be moving forward and bring back the glory of the game,“ Jatau said.

     

    According to him, a seminar will be held for coaches during the last two days of the event.

     

    “We are also expecting retired coaches to participate in the event to assess and evaluate the event.“

     

    Teams in the male category are: Mega United of Minna, FRSC Safety Shooters, Jos Wipers, Kano Pyramid, Owena Kings, Borno Spiders,

    Nigerian Army COAS Shooters, Yobe Desert Stars, Kada Stars of Kaduna, Nigeria Prison Service T-Boys, NSCDC Defenders, Rima Strikers of Sokoto, and Sea-Tigers of Lagos.

     

    In the female category, the teams include, FRSC Safety Babes, Imo Grasshoppers, Abia Violet, Borno Faro, Owena Queens of Ondo, Dynamous of Edo, Katsina Desert Queens, Lagos Seasiders, Beshima Babes of Benue, NSCDC Defenders Babes, Tin City Babes of Jos, and KADA Queens of Kaduna.

  • African airlines record highest passenger traffic growth – IATA

    African airlines record highest passenger traffic growth – IATA

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says African airlines posted the strongest demand growth globally with February traffic up by 12.7 per cent compared to same month in 2015.

    This is contained in IATA’s global passenger traffic results for February which was issued by its Director General, Mr Tony Tyler, and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    According to the statement, the pick-up indicates that African carriers are regaining market share through efforts to rationalise networks and enhance revenue management systems, after several difficult years.

    “It also aligns with a jump in exports from Africa. Capacity rose 13.4 per cent, and load factor slipped 0.4 percentage points to 63.7 per cent,” the statement said.

    It further noted that there was a strong growth in air travel demand for both domestic and international traffic globally.

    The statement said that the total Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPKs) rose to 8.6 per cent, compared to the same month last year.

    It added that monthly capacity (available seat kilometres or ASKs) increased by 9.6 per cent, and load factor declined 0.7 percentage points to 77.8 per cent.

    “In the first two months of 2016, demand for passenger connectivity is off to its strongest start in eight years.

    “However, February was the first month since the middle of 2015 in which capacity growth exceeded demand, which caused the global load factor to decline,” the statement said.

    It also condemned the March 22 terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium, noting that it is a grim reminder that transportation, including aviation, remains a target for terrorism.

    The statement reiterated further,“the attacks in Brussels were an attack on humanity, a terrible tragedy, that was met with resilience.

    “The subway is back in operation. And the airport is working hard to return to normal operations that will reconnect Europe’s capital with the world.

    “Aviation is a force for good. And we are once again proving that terrorists will never succeed in destroying the fundamental urge of people to travel, explore and learn about the world.”