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Tag: Nigeria News

  • El-Rufai’s son public school enrolment, deceptive game for 2023 – Shehu Sani

    Senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the eight National Assembly, Shehu Sani has reacted to the action of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently took his six-year-old son Abubakar to a public school for his primary education.

    Sani said the governor’s intention was to deceive people outside the locality who may not know the level of decay in public schools in the State saying, it was designed to score political goals ahead of 2023 political dispensation.

    He, however, described the move as a badly written Kennywood or Nollywood script, designed for the media preparatory for 2023.

    Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, he said, the governor’s action, “was simply a 2023 political stunt set up for the media and people who reside outside Kaduna because those who reside here know what public primary school look like in the state.

    According to him, “It is not because I have a political difference with him, no, but whoever lives in Kaduna State knew that what the governor did with his son been enrolled into public school was just a comedy.

    “Though, it was a badly written Kennywood or Nollywood script, but as far as am concerned that was a bad and poorly written script for the media preparatory for 2023 and nothing else.

    “He would have done better by upgrading schools in Kaduna. You cannot spend N195M in a particular school and then take your son and the media to that school and think you have done anything different.

    Read Also; El-Rufai enrols son in public primary school

    “Let me tell you, we had a governor in this state, Balarabe Musa who has never lived in the government house during his reign and all the while he was a governor he lived in his private house and I also know that the children of former governor Ahmed Makarfi attended this same Capital School.

    “I also know that other public officials’ children go to that school too. So if you are not been cony, deceptive and comical, you would have allowed all your children to enrol into public schools. Public school doesn’t mean primary schools alone, there are public secondary schools and public universities.

    “He is not new in this kind of drama. It was the same person who was moving around Kaduna-Abuja road with cameras that he was chasing kidnappers. So, this is a new script but as far as am concerned, that is comedy sinnce we are in an era in this state of using public utilities, public hospitals and now public schools.

    “So it is also in order that public officials, both elected and appointed should also patronise public toilets in Kaduna. That is the highest form of patriotism and selfless service. You should use what the masses are using which is public toilets.” He said.

  • FRSC debunks report of fresh recruitment

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has dismissed as unfounded reports making the rounds that it has commenced fresh recruitment and replacement.

    A statement signed by Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps had recently concluded the training and redeployment of all commissioned Staff.

    According to the FRSC spokesperson, “the attention of the Federal Road Safety Corps has been drawn to a link circulated online that the Corps is carrying out another recruitment and replacement exercise, this is totally false.

    “The Corps had recently concluded training of its personnel who have been commissioned as fulltime staff and deployed to various formations across the states of the Federation, including FCT”.

    Read Also: Accidents: FRSC urges states to establish traffic management agencies

    The statement added that, “by this disclaimer, the general public have been warned to desist from patronising these online fraudsters who are bent on duping unsuspecting members of the public.

    “Members of the public will be duly informed immediately the Corps commences recruitment into its services through appropriate media platforms including its social media handles”.

  • Seplat, NNPC support communities

    SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, operator of the NNPC-Seplat Joint Venture, will focus on health, education and economic empowerment in its host communities and other communities in line with its mandate to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

    To this end, the joint venture brought succor to community members of its areas of operation and to other indigenes of Imo State, as it held the 2019 edition of its Eye Can See and Safe Motherhood programmes, the company’s signature Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) health programmes.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, which took place at the Medical Health Centre at Izombe, Imo State, Wife of Imo State Governor, Lady Ebere Ihedioha who flagged off the medical outreach commended the joint venture noting that if all the corporate organisations were to tow this route of Seplat, the burden of underdevelopment and social restlessness particularly in the oil producing areas in the state would be greatly reduced.

    “This programme therefore places Seplat at the top of the corporate social responsibility in the state, and by extension, has won the hearts of our people,” Ihedioha said.

    The Eye Can See and Safe Motherhood Programmes are Seplats CSR initiatives executed yearly across the Company’s host communities, with focus on providing comprehensive, quality and free healthcare to members of the host communities and states. These programmes align with the Sustainable Development Goals 3, Health for All and the respective state governments’ aspirations of providing good health for their people.

    General Manager, External Affairs & Communications, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, who represented Mr. Austin Avuru, the Chief Executive Officer, said people were at the centre of everything  the company does.

    According to her, the NNPC-Seplat  joint venture takes delight whenever it has opportunity to deploy these two key programmes specially designed for the wellbeing of community members and for other indigenes of the state who wish to access the benefits of these health programmes.

    She noted that through the Eye Can See and Safe Motherhood initiatives, Seplat has provided premium health care in line with its commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of people living in its host communities.

    The company began in 2017 to run these programmes annually in these communities. The Eye Can See initiative has brought community dwellers face to face with specialist optometrists. Within the two year period, a total of 7,343 patients have benefitted from the initiative, 2,200 reading glasses have been given to patients while over 233 successful eye surgeries have been conducted.

  • Xenophobic attacks embarrassing, condemnable – South African don

    Mr. Mmatlou Kalaba, a Senior Researcher at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, has described the frequent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreign nationals by South Africans as embarrassing and condemnable.

    Kalaba said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday on the sidelines of the sixth edition of African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) held in Abuja.

    The don tendered sincere apology on behalf of his fellow South African brothers and sisters.

    “Our government has not been strong enough, in my view, in condemning, arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators and that is something which, not only embarrasses me, but makes me angry,’’ he said.

    He said that his anger stemmed from the fact that those voted into power had refused to take concrete action against the illegal act

    “Personally, I think until the perpetrators are arrested and people start spending time in jail, then we will see these kinds of things not happening at all.

    “As an African, I often do not travel with much confidence and freedom because of what I know my fellow brothers and sisters are doing to other Africans in my country.

    “Obviously, you do not expect people to welcome you when they know that in your country, foreigners are generally not welcomed,’’ Kalaba said.

    He expressed concern that the acts were perpetrated by a few hoodlums and that severe measures ought to have been taken against them.

    “I expect that harsh steps and measures be taken against them to serve as deterrent to those waiting to do the same.

    “On this note, I humbly apologise on behalf of what my fellow South African brothers and sisters. It should not be allowed to continue happening.

    “I, therefore, hope that government would take the steps it had indicated because we are really doing damage to ourselves, and not just foreigners,’’ he said.

    READ ALSO: Buhari accepts South Africa’s apology for xenophobic attacks

    He said that the South African government must remedy the situation by going round the continent apologising, with a promise to take action.

    According to Kalaba South African businesses are spread all over the continent, stressing that good conduct and attitudes are expected of them from their clients.

    “In a situation where foreign businesses have their origin in South Africa, much should be done to see to it that safety and good neighbourliness prevail.

    “It is self-inflicting, as the reverse is the case and this is really bad and sad; hopefully, we will see the end of it,’’ he said.

    Kalaba said that he had been a member of the African Association of Agricultural Economists for more than 12 years.

    He said that he was at the summit to present papers on what was happening on the continent, with regards to agricultural developments, especially in the area of trade, his area of specialisation.

    (NAN)

  • Linkage Assurance creates 15b new shares to raise equity funds

    LINKAGE Assurance Plc is planning to increase its authorised share capital with the creation of 15 billion new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each as the insurance company prepares to raise new equity funds to beef up its capital base.

    The Board of Directors of Linkage Assurance yesterday indicated that it has called an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders for next month during which shareholders are expected to consider and approve resolutions authorising the increase in share capital and the new capital raising.

    Shareholders are expected to increase the authorised share capital of the insurance company from N7.5 billion or 15 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to N15 billion of 30 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each through the creation of 15 billion new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

    With the increase in authorised share capital, the company will also be amending its memorandum of association and articles of association to reflect the new authorised share capital of N15 billion divided into 30 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

    Shareholders are expected to mandate the directors to “raise additional equity capital for the company up to the maximum limit of the authorised share capital, whether by way of special placement or public offer, right issue or other methods or a combination of any of them, either locally or internationally and upon such terms and conditions as the directors may deem fit in the interest of the company and subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities”.

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) had in May, this year released new capital requirements for insurance businesses with a 13-month compliance period for operators to shore up their minimum capital base to the required level. The minimum paid-up share capital of a life insurance company was increased from N2 billion to N8 billion, non-life insurance from N3 billion to N10 billion, composite insurance from N5 billion to N18 billion while re-insurance companies were directed to raise their capital base from N10 billion to N20 billion. Insurance companies are required to comply fully with the new minimum capital base by June 30, 2020.

    Many insurance companies have already launched plans to raise new equity funds. Lasaco plans to raise about N11.1 billion in new equity funds through the issuance of 9.25 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N1.20 per share. The company will issue the shares through special or private placement, which implies that the shares may be offered to strategic investors.

    Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc is also concluding arrangements to raise new equity funds from existing shareholders as part of efforts to meet the new minimum capital base for its non-life general insurance business.

     

  • BREAKING: Sowore sets to be released, meets bail condition

    Convener of #RevolutionNow protest Omoyele Sowore may be released from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) any moment from now.

    His lawyer, Femi Falana, has been spotted at the headquarters of the DSS in Abuja to effect the release.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered his release, directing the publisher of Sahara Reporters to deposit his passport at the court’s registry.

    Read Also; Court orders DSS to release Sowore to Falana

    “I am currently at their headquarters. Having complied with the condition given by the court, I am here for Sowore’s release,” Falana told Punch correspondent on the telephone at about 4pm on Wednesday.

    An “affidavit of compliance with court order” deposed to by a lawyer in Falana’s law firm, Mr. Marshal Abubakar has been filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja as confirmation of the submission of Sowore’s to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

    Details shortly…

  • Obaseki to present staff of office to Odibiado of Sobe

    Governor Godwin Obaseki will on Saturday September 28 present Staff of office to His Royal Highness Anthony Ero Aleburu 1, the Odibiado of Sobe in Owan west local government area of Edo state.

    The ceremony which will hold in the morning at St. Eugene’s Playground Sobe will be graced by top government functionaries and traditional rulers in the state.

    READ ALSO: Obaseki lauds cooperation, unity in Sobe

    The Odibiado of Sobe will receive the Staff of office seven years after Edo state government approved his appointment as the clan head of the community.

    The ceremony on Saturday coincides with the grand reception and gala night of the annual Sobe Day celebration.

  • RED co-founders get YouWIN! award

    THE Co-Founders of RED | For Africa, Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams, are to receive the YouWIN! Connect Award of Excellence at the first YouWIN! Connect Enterprise Education Book and Awards holding tomorrow in Abuja.

    YouWIN! Connect is a multimedia programme of the Federal Government, implemented by its Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, to fund young entrepreneurs to become business owners by using training materials and tools to build the skillset and amplify exposure of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Entreprises (MSME).

    The young entrepreneurs are being celebrated for their outstanding work in the MSME segment, for the “establishment and operation of a successful business that has transformed the lives of many Nigerians, especially youths”.  Established in 2010, RED | For Africa is a Nigerian media firm, with youth-focused brands across public relations, communication, media production and human development.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Trade fair: UBA, LCCI plan big for SMEs

    UNITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)s have assured small medium enterprises (SMEs) that this year’s Lagos International Trade Fair will bring benefits that will transform their businesses.

    UBA’s Head Group Consumer Retail Business, Jude Anele, who gave this assurance yesterday at a press conference to announce the  trade fair and unveil its sponsors, said UBA has put in place various service offerings to guarantee that this year’s fair provides a veritable platform to catalyse businesses to new highs.

    He explained that the 33rd  Lagos International Trade Fair scheduled to start on November 1, is expected to provide an avenue for networking, trade and investment to boost businesss in Africa’s largest economy.

    Ensuring that small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) maximise their presence at the fair, Anele explained that UBA would provide an uninterrupted banking during the two-week event, and offer advisory services to the SMEs, fundamental to achieving their business goals.

    He said: “Worthy of mention is that merchants and entrepreneurs from other African countries and abroad would be able to conduct their transactions seamlessly without currency exchange hassles, using the extensive reach of UBA as a pan African bank with presence in key commercial capitals in the world,”

    On the ease of payment during the event, especially with African firms from outside Nigeria, Anele disclosed that UBA has put in place solutions that would see ease of payment within Africa.

    Also, the Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, promised that the 33rd West Africa’s flagship fair would bring utmost value to entrepreneurs and businesses in Nigeria and beyond as he acknowledged the massive supports being provided by corporate organisations such as UBA.

     

  • Barcelona starlet Fati makes Spain’s U-17 squad

    Anssumane Fati has been officially included in Spain’s U-17 World Cup preliminary squad picked by David Gordo.
    The list remains unofficial yet as the final version is expected to be presented in October.

    However, it’s highly likely that Ansu will travel to Brazil for his first major international event.

    At least, that’s one of the reasons for which the Spanish citizenship was obtained by the 16-year-old.

    Fati got his new passport last Friday.

    READ ALSO: La Liga: Ramon Azeez strikes as Granada stuns Barcelona

    Currently, Barcelona are not delighted with the overall state of things as they see Ansu a valuable squad member.

    Now, everything points to the fact that the youngster will miss about seven games of the Catalans, including his would-be first El Clasico.