The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian News Today

  • 5 ways to know she’s ready for you to propose

    Even though the old saying goes “when you know, you know,” there are certain signs that it’s time to pop the question that you should look for. Here are ways to ensure she wants you to propose.

    1. She talks about your future together: This is one of the biggest signs your girlfriend wants to take your relationship to the “next step” and get engaged. If she constantly talks about your life together, possibly including buying a house, having children, moving somewhere, etc., she can definitely see a future with you and her being so open about this probably means that she wants you to propose.

    2. She brings you to every family gathering: If you two get married, you will officially become a part of each other’s family. If your girlfriend has been thinking about getting married, she’s probably made efforts to invite you to her family get-togethers. She wants her family to get to know you and vice-versa because she knows that if you get married, you’ll be part of this family! If your girlfriend is obviously pushing to include you in her family, this could be a sign that she wants you to officially join the family, meaning she wants you to propose.

    Read More: Why Nigerian men delay marriage proposals

    3. She starts the ‘baby’ talk, even if on a lighter note: This is one topic that even some married couples struggle to address. If your girlfriend randomly drops hints about how she likes babies or shares about her ideas of motherhood, it means she is comfortable talking about children with you. Remember, motherhood is not an easy topic to talk about with anyone unless a woman is comfortable with the person.

    4. She drops hints about how her friends are getting married: Does your girl keeps reminding you about her married friends and frequently expresses how happy she is for them? This might be a good sign that she looks at marriage with a positive attitude and takes inspiration from her married friends. It’s time to fetch the ring if she is surrounded by married couples and she loves spending time with them.

    5. She tells you: If she’s ready to get engaged, not all signs your girlfriend gives you will necessarily be “indirect.” In fact, she might just be straight-forward and tell you that she really wants to get engaged to you. This “sign” is difficult to misinterpret – there’s really no denying that she wants you to propose.

  • LCCI sets agenda for President Buhari’s 2nd term

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) says the quality of the nation’s infrastructure, policies and institutions are crucial to driving economic diversification.

    Mr. Muda Yusuf, Director-General of LCCI, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

    He noted that it was crucial to get the parameters right and ensure proper alignment among the variables to achieve sustainable economic diversification.

    According to him, the policy mix of monetary, foreign exchange, interest rate, tax, trade, procurement, and investment policies are critical to the economic diversification process and to achieve desired outcomes.

    “The monetary policy should be designed to drive domestic investment through moderation of the monetary tightening stance of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “This is needed to moderate interest rate in the economy because it is difficult to drive domestic investment at current levels of interest rate which is well over 25 percent for most economic players,” he said.

    Yusuf stressed that the economy required investment, especially domestic direct investment to drive the diversification agenda.

    According to him, the current multiplicity of rates in the foreign exchange policy is inimical to sustainable economic diversification.

    He said that the tax policy should be better attuned to economic diversification through a reversal of the tax burden from investors to consumers.

    “The three tiers of government targets investors more than consumers and this is not in consonance with best practice principles in taxation.

    “In an economy which is almost 50 percent informal, this structure of taxation is not investment friendly because the formal sector of the economy bears the largest burden of the tax system,” he said.

    Read More: Why Nigeria’s auto sector is at a standstill

    Yusuf said the use of banks as collection agents for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was disruptive, distracting, arbitrary, oppressive and unfair to investors.

    He noted that it was a serious disincentive to investment and the promotion of financial inclusion, adding that the approach should be discontinued.

    The LCCI boss also stressed that the trade policies should be guided by sectoral competitive and comparative advantage to ensure sustainability.

    He said that institutional capacity to enforce the policies should also be considered in trade policy formulation.

    “Policies should be focused on incentivizing resource-based industries which typically has a competitive advantage and good impact on the economy because of the high multiplier effect.

    “The relativity of tariffs between Nigeria and neighboring countries should also be considered in the formulation of trade policy,” he said.

    He stressed that fixing the country’s infrastructure was critical to building a competitive economy and a fundamental requirement for economic diversification and sustainable job creation.

    Yusuf said that transformation in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors largely depends on the quality of infrastructure.

    “A key focus of diversification should be on resource-based industries – agro-allied, oil and gas, manufacturing with high local content.

    “These sectors will strengthen the capacity of the economy to create jobs, drive inclusive growth, promote income redistribution and generally impact positively on the economy.”

    According to him, a lot of potentials still needs to be unlocked in the oil and gas sector, especially in refineries, fertilizers plants, gas-based industries and petrochemicals.

    “We need to put an end to being just a crude oil exporter to self-sufficiency in petroleum products and exporter of refined products and other gas related products,” he said.

    Yusuf urged agencies of government to be more investment-friendly and demonstrate better sensitivity to the plight of investors towards promoting investment and economic growth. (NAN)

  • ‘Lack of empowerment, poverty fanning domestic violence’

    Lack of empowerment, fear of who will take care of the children and hunger are some of the reasons abused women stay silent and endure violence and other forms of abuse in relationships, as against reporting to the appropriate authorities.

    This much was revealed at a recent one-day round-table discussion on Domestic Violence Law of Lagos State organised for community women’s associations by Project Alert.

    Guest speaker, Oluwakemi Bello of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) informed the women leaders drawn largely from the Agege and Ikosi areas of Lagos State that the department was established to expose and fight everything that constitutes violence against women and girls.

    She informed that the law against domestic violence is very strong in Lagos, having been signed into law since 2007. At the moment, she said the department works directly with the governor to provide holistic response to issues of rape, domestic violence and child abuse, and urged the women leaders to intimate their members to take advantage of it.

    In the event of silence by the victim, Bello disclosed that everybody is a mandatory reporter, adding that the department’s slogan is, “When you see something, say something.”

    The three-part discussion dealt with: “Understanding Domestic Violence: Myths and facts,” presented by Nsini Udonta; the second part handled by Olubukola Olowoyo explained the Domestic Violence Law in plain language, while the third part explained the role of police as well as its commitment and accessibility to the people.

    Speaking, Executive Director, Project Alert, Josephine Effah-Chukwuma said the gathering was to appraise the women with the Domestic Violence Law, to enable them deal with the increasingly ‘epidemic’ situation.

  • NDLEA begins trial of 33-year-old suspected drug baron

    The trial of 33-year-old Vincent Amago, who is accused of cultivating Indian hemp in a large farm, commenced on Wednesday at a Jos Federal High Court.

    It was reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the arraignment of the defendant, told the court that he was caught with 1,351 Kgs of Canniva Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.

    The NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Mr Bundi Suleiman, had told the court that operatives of the agency arrested the defendant on Nov. 29, 2017, at his residence at Kumbul village in Richa District of Bokkos Local Government of Plateau.

    According to Suleiman, the offence contravenes Section 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation 2004.

    The defendant had denied committing the offence and was granted bail by the court.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Suleiman told the court that he had two witnesses ready to testify in the case.

    Led in evidence by Suleiman, Mr John Joshua, prosecution witness 1, told the court that he arrested the defendant on Nov. 29, 2017.

    Joshua told the court that he and his colleague, Mr Michael Yelleng, in the company of military officers of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), on information, arrested the defendant at Kumbul village in Richa District of Bokkos.

    “On that fateful day, we went to the residence of the accused; when we knocked on the door, he opened it for us and we told him of our mission.

    Read Also: Drug barons kill informant in Edo

    “To our utmost surprise, his entire house was like a store; it was filled with substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

    “We arrested him and packed so much quantity into our vehicles, but we had to leave some behind because the vehicles were filled up with no space to carry more, ’’ Joshua claimed.

    The witness said that the quantity they packed weighed 768Kg, and when tested, it was certified to be Indian hemp.

    “We again went back to his residence and packed the remaining substances and they weighed 583Kg; we also tested the substances and found them to be Indian hemp.’’

    Yelleng, another witness, also testified and corroborated the claims by the first witness.

    The prosecution then sought for an adjournment to call more witnesses after the defence counsel, Mr A. Shaddrach, had cross-examined the two prosecution witnesses.

    Justice Dorcas Agishi thereafter adjourned the case to Dec. 21, for continuation of hearing.

  • ASUU strike : Parents, students call for quick FG intervention

    Some parents and students in Abuja on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to speedily intervene and resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU).

    The parents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, expressed worry over the constant strikes embarked upon by the university lecturers’ union.

    NAN reports that on Monday, the Federal Government and ASUU had a meeting to resolve their agreement in order to suspend the lecturers’ strike.

    However, the meeting that reportedly started at about 5 p.m. at the Federal Ministry of Education ended in another deadlock.

    A parent, Mrs Eunice John, said: “it is a pity what our government and ASUU is doing to this to our children who have been forced once again out of school.
    ‎
    “‎We know that many of the leaders have their children either studying in private universities or in other schools overseas, that is why they can always keep our children out of school.

    “Many parents are struggling to pay school fees of their wards to keep them in school and out of the streets, yet these children are forced to come home and some now engage in various vices.

    “That is not the only problem, when their studies are disrupted, it affects them; imagine those who were in the middle of writing examinations having that flow disrupted.’’

    ‎John pleaded with the FG and ASUU to reach an agreement that would end the strike and ultimately help improve the education sector.

    Mr David Onilede, another parent said the strike was worrisome adding that it would affect the productivity of the students.

    “I am worried at the sustained strike by ASUU. As a parent, the capacity of our children for productive interaction with their studies is being jeopardised.

    “I do not trust the FG ‘ s negotiating team; it seems that it is fixated on commercialising education at the tertiary level; ASUU should resist this. ‎

    “ASUU too, should be more flexible in their obsession with earned allowances; it portrays their struggles as selfish,’’ he said.

    Mrs Jumoke Yusuf, a Public Servant, said that the constant and protracted lecturers’ strikes had marred the country’s university system, as continuous breaks in the learning process had negatively affected the students.

    Read Also: APC Elders to Olanusi’s group: Retrace your steps

    “This strike is affecting the students and even we the parents because unexpectedly these children are coming home which they did not plan for.

    “That is not the main issue because you cannot stop your children from coming home no matter what.

    “The issue is that these incessant strikes are actually causing a lot of problems for these children in the sense that they just stay too long in school.
    ‎
    Esther Ajayi, a student ‎at the Nasarawa State University, who a spoke to reporters, said the strike had reduced her morale.

    ‎”I paid my fees for admission for a master’s degree programme and was excited and ready to go to school, however, this strike has dampened my hope of finishing within the stipulated time.

    “We want the federal government to dialogue with ASUU to end this continuous strike.
    ‎
    “It is not only sad that children of the masses try to be beat all odds to be the best they can be, but more worrisome is that the government of the day plays politics with the education system.

    ‎”Nigeria prides herself as the giant of Africa, but finds it difficult to resolve issues that are beneficial to the populace, we want the strike called off soonest.”
    ‎
    Emmanuel Onuoha, another student who spoke to NAN, accused the FG of failing the Nigerian student. ‎

    He said that government needed to do everything within its power to address the challenges in the sector as he called for the strike to be called of soonest.

    “Our parents said in their time the education system was good, there was nothing like strike and education was basically free.

    “Now some of them are in government and they are allowing us to suffer what they never did, because they can afford to send their children to schools abroad to get the best. ‎

    “We are pleading with government to solve this problem so we can go back to school.

    “Our ‎mates in private universities are way ahead of us; we‎ are just sitting at home doing nothing. It is not fair,”‎ he said.

  • No regrets having Tinubu as godfather, says Sen. Adeola

    Senator Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos) says he does not have regrets having the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Tinubu as his godfather.

    Adeola, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja said there was nothing wrong in having a godfather in politics.

    He was reacting to the belief by some Nigerians that his actions and inactions, particularly on the floor of the senate were geared towards pleasing Tinubu rather than his constituents.

    The lawmaker said while the interest of his constituents remained paramount to him, he had high regards for Tinubu, who had nurtured him through his political career.

    Adeola, who is Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content recently won the APC primary election for Lagos West Senatorial District.

    He expressed optimism that with Tinubu and the people’s support, he would return to the senate in 2019.

    “I want to thank my father, mentor and role model, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu who endorsed me as the party flag bearer.

    “If not for God and Tinubu, I would not have been here today.

    “I also want to thank all the party members for seeing me fit to go for another election.

    “I am here on a mission, to protect and defend our democracy.

    Read Also: 2019 Polls: Police will be fair to all Parties – DIG

    “I believe in the power of the people and they are the ones to decide those that will represent them,” he said.

    Adeola said the electorate had seen his performance over the years and were prepared to give him their mandate to represent them in the 9th National Assembly.

    He said, “I have had the opportunity of serving as a House of Representatives member and now I am in the Senate.

    ” In the last three years, I have sponsored 15 bills and two have been assented to by the President.

    “I have also sponsored several motions on matters of national importance.

    “I have also tried as much as I can to give my people a voice and I know they are pleased with my performance.”

    The lawmaker added that he had carried out constituency projects that impacted greatly on the lives of his constituents.

    “The things I have done in my constituency are evident. As we speak, we are planning a constituency outreach by first week of December.

    “All we are doing is to ensure that we remain in constant touch with the people.

    “It is a yearly thing and we will ensure that this year’s outreach impacts as much as the ones in the past if not better.”

  • Court orders Fidelity bank to pay dismissed worker

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Monday ordered Fidelity Bank Plc to pay N340, 361 to its dismissed staff, Mr Alah Jonathan.

    The amount is the ex-worker’s one month’s salary in lieu of notice of termination of his employment.

    The dismissed worker had sought redress in the court after his dismissal without being paid a month’s salary in lieu of notice of termination of his employment.

    In her judgment, Justice Rakiya Haastrup, held that there was no evidence before the court to prove allegations of misconduct and fraud made by the bank against the ex-worker to justify his summary dismissal.

    According to her, since the bank failed to justify the dismissal, the proper thing for the court to do was to convert the summary dismissal to termination of employment.

    Haastrup also held that Fidelity bank must act in accordance with the terms and conditions regulating its employment as contained in the ex-worker’s employment letter before the court.

    The terms and conditions, according to the judge, stipulate that one month notice is required before termination of employment or a month’s salary in lieu of notice of termination of employment.

    Read Also: 2019 National Sports Festival: Ambode receives torch of unity

    She, therefore, ordered the payment of N340, 361 in lieu of one month notice of termination of employment and any other entitlements that may be due and accruable to the ex-worker.

    The judge also ordered that the payment must be done within 60 days from the date of the judgment, after which the defendant (Fidelity bank) shall be liable to pay 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum.

    She awarded N100, 000 against Fidelity bank as the cost of prosecuting the suit in favour of the claimant.

    The judge, however, remarked that any wilful disobedience of a lawful and reasonable order of an employer by an employee was misconduct that should attract summary dismissal.

    Counsel to Fidelity bank, Mr Etukwu Onah, had told the court that the ex-worker was dismissed because he was inconsistent in his responses to queries over allegations of misconduct, fraud and disappearance of N4.7 million in his custody as a cash officer.

    He said that the ex-staff member failed to defend himself even before a disciplinary committee.

  • 2019:NBC set to strengthen role for peaceful electioneering process – DG

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Malam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, Director General, National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) has reiterated the commission’s commitment to strengthen and consolidate its role to ensuring proper supervision and monitoring of broadcast stations activities on political campaigns.

    Speaking on Monday at the opening of a 2-day workshop on political broadcast in Sokoto, Kawu in a welcome address, noted that political parties and candidates have role to play in shaping the process such that the nation’s democracy could thrive in peace.

    According to Malam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, ” we need to responsively reflect on the mutual ideals of democracy to sustain an acceptable process.”

    While explaining that the commission was responsible for adequate supervision and sanctioning of erring stations, Kawu noted that stations must measure up with the challenges associated with their responsibilities especially during electioneering campaigns.

    “It is my hope that the workshop would avail us the opportunity of knowing the important task before us and take advantage to learn and do the needful towards ensuring a peaceful electioneering process”, Kawu said.

    Read Also: Anambra Speaker urges IG to unseal Assembly complex

    In his keynote address, NBC board Chairman, Ikra Iliyasu Bilbis stressed the need for parties and politicians to depart from negative tendencies and activities that serially characterised peaceful elections in the past.

    ” It seems Nigeria has not learnt from past experience.”

    He enumerated rumour, denying opposition access to air their views especially through government owned media, dwelling on non issue based political discuss among others as catalysts.

    Bilbis, however observed that was yet to learn much from the modern democratic process, recalling that ” in the 2015 elections, international observers, though commended Nigeria for a free and fair elections, they however, did not dwell n politically based issues.”

    In their separate messages of goodwill, INEC, NSCDC and other stakeholders who spoke in same direction including the traditional institution, assured of their resolve to support and responsively ensure smooth, peaceful and successful electioneering and elections process.

    According to them, ” parties , politicians and other stakeholders have the duty to make our work easier if we collectively observe the guide lines and requirements.“

  • Beans can be produced naturally without sniper, says farmer

    Mrs Bose Idowu, an agriprenuer at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has assured farmers and citizens that producing, preserving beans can be natural without application of sniper.

    She made this known to Reporters on Monday in Ibadan.

    Idowu, who is a producer of beans, yam flour, plantain flour and local rice, said that she produced clean beans without preservatives.

    “Beans with weevils is an indication that the beans was not preserved with any sniper or chemicals, so people should not be losing interest in buying beans with weevils, they are even the best.

    “I buy at the right time when the farmers freshly harvest at the farm, after that I seal it properly in a purse bag developed by some scientists.

    “The purse has thick nylon inside and the regular sacks cover outside, once one can properly seal it and store well, it can last for six months to even one year.

    “My beans by God’s grace are still one of the cheapest and best in market because I get them directly from the farmers immediately after harvest, they are clean and well stored, ” she said.

    Idowu, the Chief Executive Officer of Gracevine Agribusiness Ltd., Ibadan, noted she was trained and empowered through IITA Youth Agriprenuer (IYA) Programme.

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    “I joined agriprenuer programme in 2012 and was trained on soya bean, maize and cowpea productions, from the token received from IITA then I saved N500, 000 and started my own business.

    “Through the support of IITA and partners, the business scaled up, since 2016, I cultivated, produced and packaged no fewer than five hectares of cowpea monthly; now I have a factory to produce and sell cowpea.

    “My products are of high quality and the prizes are affordable,” she said.

    Idowu, a graduate of Animal Breeding and Genetics, added that her factory could produce 120 tonnes of yam flour in a month, but was limited due to lack of market.

    “From the N4 million that I received from IITA and donors, especially the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), I was able to buy all necessary equipment but the major challenge is that we lacked the market.

    “Also, the company is still waiting for NAFDAC accreditation having applied for a long time, if they accredit us and there is market, we will meet our capacity which will surely boost food production in Nigeria and Africa at large,” she said.

    She, however, maintained that beans could still be produced without preservatives while urging the farmers to follow due process of producing, preserving beans the natural way.

  • Teenagers docked for stealing cellphones, ipad

    Two teenagers, Mohammed Jelani and Samaila Shehu accused of stealing a two cellphones and an iPad valued at N101, 000, on Monday appeared in a Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The police charged Jelani and Shehu with two counts of criminal conspiracy and theft.

    The prosecutor, Sergeant Monday Kennedy, told the court that the offence was committed on September 12 and reported at Uguwan Rogo police station, Sokoto.

    Kennedy alleged that the teenagers conspired and entered into the complainant’s room(name witheld) at Izalat headquarters, Uguwan Rogo area Sokoto and stole the items.

    Read Also: Psychiatrist decries silence of victims, families on rape cases

    He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code.

    The Chief Magistrate, Nuraddeen Bello, who admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000, ordered the accused persons must produce one surety each in like sum.

    Bello adjourned the case until November 30, for hearing.