The Nation Newspaper

Tag: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

  • Privatisation not the problem with power sector – BPE DG

    Privatisation not the problem with power sector – BPE DG

     

    Mr Vincent Akpotaire, the acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), said on Friday that privatisation was not the problem affecting the power sector in the country.

     

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that the long-standing decay in the sector was the main cause of the present challenges facing the sector.

     

    Akpotaire said that privatisation became the only option open to the government due to the need to have a process that would be self-sustaining and responsive and make electricity supply transparent and investment sustainable.

     

    According to him, “Privatisation is a process, it rides on the back of sector reform and sector reform is a necessity that arises from failure of infrastructure basically.

     

    “Privatisation is not the problem we are facing today; the problem we are facing today is getting the system that is now in place to run without glitches; to remove the bottlenecks in the system, because you are moving from one completely different system to a new one where the people take their obligations seriously.

     

    “Power cannot be stable in this country after 40 years of decay and rot two years after privatisation.’’

     

    Akpotaire said that the present administration had taken full charge of the situation by working out modalities to solve some of the issues in the sector.

     

    According to him, government is taking adequate steps to ensure that the new system that is in place begins to work properly in order to improve power supply.

     

    He advised the Federal Government to create incentives for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to strengthen its capacity to transmit more than it was doing presently.

     

    “Government can continue to fund the existing infrastructure, but at the same time government can encourage Public-Private Partnership in funding what was in the past called super grid.

     

    “This supergrid could transmit up to 760 megawatts and that gives a very robust capacity to wield power, so the lost regime in transmission will drop significantly.’’

     

    He, however, urged Nigerians to be patient with the present administration, as it is doing everything possible to improve power supply.

     

    He also disclosed that Ntel, a new company carved out of MTEL, a subsidiary of the defunct Nigeria Telecommunications Ltd (NITEL), is in the process of rolling out new lines to the public.

     

    According to him, that is a testimony that the guided liquidation of the government assets was properly executed.

     

    “We are aware that the Ntel facility is about rolling out its new lines and substantial part of what they want to do is in the areas of 4G data and voice.

     

    “Its not yet Uhuru, because they are starting out on completely new platforms.

     

    “The old platforms of NITEL are obsolete and useless; that is the truth.

     

    “So what they really bought was the space and a couple of the equipment that they could still transit.

     

    “Most of what they are doing now is premised on brand new platforms that they are bringing on board to start their activities.

     

    “We will work with them to ensure that they do get it right in the interest of deepening the telecoms space and having a Nigerian player that will be able to leapfrog the local economy into better use of data like the 4G data spectrum that we are doing currently.’’

  • CAS reaffirms commitment to reposition Nigerian Air Force

    CAS reaffirms commitment to reposition Nigerian Air Force

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Thursday reiterated his commitment to strengthen the Nigerian Air Force for optimal performance.

     

    Abubakar, who made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said that there was no better time to achieve that, than now.

     

    Abubakar said that the Nigerian Air Force was in dire need of repositioning, adding that such had been one of the cardinal points of his administration.

     

    “Our aim is to reposition the Air Force; we are interested in ensuring that we are operating as professionals.

     

    “Professionalism and regimentation in the service is a very important area of interest that we have in the Air Force,’’ he said.

     

    Abubakar said that because of the important role Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) and Warrant Officers (WOs) played in the Air Force, the senior officers deemed it necessary to meet with them on quarterly basis.

     

    According to him, the quarterly meeting enabled him and other officers to interact with them, communicate clear doubts and give them guidelines on what is expected of them.

     

    Abubakar said that the quarterly meeting also availed them of the opportunity to remind the RSMs and WOs of the very crucial role they played in repositioning the Air Force.

     

    Abubakar said that the Air Force had always been part of the operations against criminality and other anti-social vices in the South-South region, adding that it would continue in that direction.

     

    “We are also playing an important role alongside other security agencies in the North-East to bring sanity to the area,’’ he said.

  • NAFDAC seals four sachet water companies in Niger

    NAFDAC seals four sachet water companies in Niger

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Niger said that it had sealed four sachet water producing companies in Minna for operating with expired licenses.

    Mr Anikoh Ibrahim, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, made this known on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

    “During our routine inspection yesterday (Wednesday) we sealed four sachet water producing companies for operating with expired licenses.

    “They will now pay some charges for late renewal before they start operations again,’’ he said.

    Ibrahim said that sachet water producers were licensed to operate for a two-year term, while bottled water producers would operate for six-year period before renewal of license.

    The state coordinator said that NAFDAC would not relent in its efforts to sanitise the operation of sachet water producers in the state for the good health of residents.

    ‘’We are aware of some unscrupulous persons that are not licensed by NAFDAC who exploit this hot weather season to produce in commercial quantities for consumption by unsuspecting consumers.

    ‘’Some of them operate with fake NAFDAC registration numbers or by using sachet or bottles of registered producers.

    “We have been going round on our usual surveillance to detect such people,’’ he told NAN.

    Ibrahim said that the agency would meet with licensed table water producers in the state to ensure that unlicensed producers did not infiltrate their business.

    The state coordinator enjoined table water consumers in the state to always check for NAFDAC numbers before consumption.

     

  • Kebbi releases N314m for students’ scholarship

    The Kebbi State Government on Thursday said it had released N314 million for the payment of registration and tuition fee for indigent students in national and foreign institutions.

    Dr Sahabi Yauri, the Executive Secretary of the state’s Scholarship Board, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

    Yauri said that out of the amount, N147 million was for tuition, registration and tenancy for 30 indigent students studying medicine in Indian universities.

    He added that N97 million was for the fees of 30 students studying medicine, dentistry and surgery in Sudanese universities, while N70 million was for 5,000 indigent students studying in tertiary institutions in the country.

    The executive secretary said some of the beneficiaries were studying in the country in six institutions that included Federal University Birnin Kebbi, North West University Kano, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Alqalam Islamic University Katsina and Sokoto State Polytechnic.

    He explained that the amount had been released to the bank accounts of the benefiting institutions, stressing that payment was approved after scrutiny of students to avoid misplacement of priority.

    Yauri then urged the students to reciprocate government’s gesture by studying hard to justify the investment made on them and commended the conduct of the students, especially those who were studying abroad.

    He said the board had never received any complaint of misconduct from the students from any school.

  • Commuters resort to trekking as petrol sells for N220

    Commuters in the Anambra capital, Awka and its environs have resorted to trekking to their destinations as the pump price of petrol hit N220 per litre in the state since Monday.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many filling stations in the capital territory that had the product sold at N220, though some sold at N200.

     

    As at the time of filing this report on Thursday, commercial vehicles had cashed in on the situation to charge high fares, citing the cost petrol.

     

    A civil servant, Mr Joseph Nwankwo, told NAN that the development had made him to wake up as early as 6 a.m. daily to trek about four kilometres which used to cost N70 by public transport.

     

    The civil servant added that the fare for the distance had increased to N150.

     

    “Since our government is not planning to up our salaries for now, I can’t afford to pay the new fares.

     

    “My current salary cannot sustain me till the end of the month if I should be spending over N300 every day.

     

    “I have family needs to take care of not to talk of the children’s school fees which is not far from now,’’ he said.

     

    Mrs Amaka Onyejekwu, a trader in Eke Awka market, said that she had resorted to trekking from Nibo Town where she lives to Awka due to the 100 percent increase in transport fares.

     

    “I used to pay N100 to Awka but now it is N200.

     

    “This has made me and many others to try practical means of getting to the market by trekking through bush paths that connect the two neighbouring towns.

     

    “As we go, we don’t mind the hills and valleys that we go through,’’ she said.

     

    Mr Chike Anizoba, a civil servant, called on the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, to keep to his promise of restoring normalcy to petrol supply.

     

    “The Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, promised the nation that by today (Thursday) the petrol scarcity would have been over.

     

    “He should try to do so because we the masses are suffering.

     

    “With the current trend of events in the country, salaries don’t last over two weeks anymore.

     

    “You can imagine that I have been trekking to my office which is about three kilometres since the past two weeks and my shoes are paying the price,’’ he said.

  • Healthy eating during pregnancy will guarantee baby’s well-being — Experts

    A dietician, Mr Olusola Malomo, on Thursday advised pregnant women to imbibe the healthy eating habit during pregnancy for proper growth and development of the foetus.


    Malomo, who works at the Massey Children Hospital, Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that adopting the healthy eating habit at any stage of pregnancy would be beneficial to the mother and the foetus.

    “Adopting a healthy eating plan before pregnancy is the best; a pregnant woman should begin to eat good food so as to keep the mother and baby healthy during pregnancy.
    “A nutritious, well-balanced eating plan can be one of the greatest gifts you can give to your developing baby and it will pave way for easy labour.
    “The food which expectant mothers eat determines the basic nutritional health which her child is born with, and provides a model for eating habits during childhood and thereafter.
    “Try to incorporate vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes, lean protein, and other wise food choices into your eating plan before and during pregnancy, to give your baby a strong start in life.
    “The food a woman eats on daily basis during pregnancy will affect how her body works, and how she maintains energy and strength for years to come,’’ he said.

    Malomo said that mothers who do not eat good food during pregnancy place their babies at risk of severe complications such as premature birth and could cause lung and heart problems.
    “Eat protein such as chicken, fish and lean beef. Calcium-based foods are milk, eggs, yoghurt and cabbage. Iron foods are bread, cornmeal, cereals, among others.

    He also advised pregnant women to drink more water and avoid alcoholic beverages.

    Also, a gynaecologist, Mr Oriola Idris, who works with the White Waters Hospital in Ikorodu, said that pregnant women should avoid tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.
    “Reduce caffeinated beverages from your daily intake, maintain a healthy eating habit throughout your pregnancy and do reasonable exercises, to ease labour and delivery.
    “Always consult your healthcare provider before taking any strange step during pregnancy,’’ Idris added.

  • Amputee football federation president laments dearth of sponsors

    Amputee football federation president laments dearth of sponsors

    Abibat Ladidi, the President of Nigeria Amputee Football Federation (NAFF), on Wednesday lamented the poor response of potential sponsors to the body proposals.

    Ladidi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the body’s programme of activities for the quarter had not attracted the expected response.

    She noted that as a result of the problem, the federation set up a marketing committee, saddled with the responsibility of getting individual and corporate bodies to sponsor its activities.

    According to her, effort made by the committee to get the attention of enthusiasts has not yielded positive results.

    “The situation of our sport is really pathetic because we have not been able to hold a single programme since this year even with activities lined out in our annual schedule.

    “Instead of depending on the Ministry of Youth and Sports for support, we set up a marketing committee to market the sport so as to attract sponsorship.

    “Unfortunately, promises from some companies and individuals are not forthcoming, hence, affecting our activities,’’ she said.

    The NAFF president appealed to all fans to sponsor of its activities.

    “We have widened the scope of our sponsorship drive to NGOs and religious organisations; we want to bring positive change to amputee football.

    “We will appreciate any support to execute our lined up programmes and purchase crutches, gift items and jersey,’’ she added.

     

  • Two killed, 100 shanties burnt in Lagos fire

    Two killed, 100 shanties burnt in Lagos fire

     

    Two persons have died in an early morning fire incident which razed over 100 shanties in Kuramo, near Lekki in Lagos.

    The Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the burnt bodies of a man and a woman were recovered at the scene.

    According to him, “The shanties spread to about four plots of land. We got information that the fire started at about 3.15 a.m.

    “Information we got was that a young lady was cooking in one of the shanties and there was a fuel container nearby, which ignited the fire and spread to other parts.

    “It took us about four hours to put out the fire. My men did not know there was anybody inside while they were fighting the fire.

    “We met the man and woman in two different locations roasted after we finally put out the fire,’’ Fadipe said.

    The director said that the corpses were handed over to police officers from Ilason Division, who later took them to the mortuary

     

  • Ex-CBN chief calls for less dependence on oil

    Ex-CBN chief calls for less dependence on oil

    A retired Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Chris Nemedia, on Monday urged the Federal Government to be less-dependent on trading in crude oil in the international market.

    Nemedia, who made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that processed commodities were more profitable to trade in.

    “Emphasis should be on adding value to the primary commodities like oil before exporting them in order to get the desired yield like other nations from natural resources

    “A major achievement of this government will be to make us belong to the league of countries that trade in manufactured products.

    “By now, we ought to have improved on the processing and refining of our crude oil ,’’ the former CBN director said.

    According to Nemedia, there has been steady decline in commodity prices internationally in the last one year.

    He said the decline had been to the detriment of economies that relied solely on exporting the commodities in their crude state.

    Nemedia urged the government to give priority to the value of the nation’s primary products for export.

    “President Buhari needs to emphasise the establishment of processing plants by partnering with the private sector.

    “Former developing economies that have moved to a more advanced stage went the way of industrialisation and manufacturing to change their fortunes,’’ he said.

    Nemedia said that the hallmark of diversification of the economy should be increased industrialisation and manufacturing.

    “We have the population to sustain the consumption of locally-manufactured goods to our benefit,’’ he said.

    The National Bureau of Statistics said that till 2014, exportation of crude oil and natural gas accounted for more than 91 per cent of total exports.