The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian news

  • MOSOP welcomes military operations in Ogoniland

    The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has described the current military operations in parts of Ogoniland, Rivers State, as a step in the right direction.

    The military operation is to weed out criminals, vandals and cultists who MOSOP said has turned the area into a blood river.

    A statement on Sunday by its President, Legborsi Pyagbara, said an end must come to criminal activities in Ogoniland.

    Read Also: Wike pledges improved security for Ogoni communities

    The statement reads: “While we hail the deployment of military personnel in Ogoniland, we urge that the operations be carried out within the ambit of the law and respect for the rights of innocent citizens so that unnecessary collateral damage will not be experienced.

    “We urge the people to remain peaceful, law abiding and support the legitimate operations. We assure the people that we are monitoring the process to ensure that innocent lives are not lost. We will promptly take actions against any of such operations that lead to any unnecessary attack on innocent individuals.”

    MOSOP added that any breach of professional rule of engagement observed during the military operations should be reported to the appropriate military authorities and to the office of the umbrella organisation of Ogoni people.

  • Delta spends N377m on water reticulation

    Delta State government has spent N377 million to provide potable water for homes in Asaba and Ughelli.

    It built 5km water pipelines each in 10 urban areas of Issele-Uku, Patani, Ogharefe, Ozoro, Kwale, Koko, Orerokpe, Burutu, Obiarukwu and Ogwashi-Uku.

    Commissioner for Water Resources Martins Okonta, who spoke yesterday in Asaba, urged residents to consume water from the public water system.

    He said water from private boreholes were not as safe as that from public supply.

    Read Also: Free medical care for 700 in Delta communities

    “Most private boreholes do not have treatment plants; they don’t have quality control, they just put the boreholes, get water and start using it without treatment. But the government or public water sector has treatment plants and when treated you will see the difference – there will be no colour, no taste and no odour,’’ he said.

    “Water from the public sector has a lot of advantages because it goes through quality control, data control and is treated, unlike private boreholes that are usually sunk near cesspits, which amount to taking contaminated water into your system.

    Continuing, Okonta said:  “I will not subscribe to drinking water from private boreholes because they are not treated and the boreholes are cited close to cesspits. Even when your well is not close to a cesspit, your neighbour cites his cesspit close to the borehole.

    “The government has committed over N233 million into the Asaba Regional Water Scheme, while the Ughelli Regional Water Scheme has received N144 million.

    ‘’In a bid to get water distributed to homes, the government has also built 5km water pipelines in 10 urban areas – Issele-Uku, Patani, Ogharefe, Ozoro, Kwale, Koko, Orerokpe, Burutu, Obiarukwu and Ogwashi-Uku.”

  • Our plan to improve Niger Delta, by NDDC chair-designate

    Chairman-designate of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr Pius Odubu has said the board, when constituted, will adopt a needs assessment approach to select projects to execute.

    Odubu promised that the board would live above board and ensure quality work in Niger Delta. He addressed reporters after attending the 70th birthday thanksgiving of Mrs. Roseline Edaghuase Imariagbe, mother of former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie.

    Read Also: ‘Don’t transfer NDDC to Niger Delta ministry’

    He said: “The God who started it will finish it. We intend to have a vibrant NDDC; one that will prioritise the needs of the people. We are going to adopt the NEEDS assessment.

    “We will go to the various communities to ask them their needs; we will not force projects down their throats. We will take the Adams Oshiomhole template to NDDC by having daily inspection and ensure we get value for money. Accountability will be the word; we will turn the region around.

    “Look at the calibre of people going there; they are men of impeccable character; they are neither hungry nor in need of money; people who are already contented. It remains, therefore, for us to work; to do our best so that we will continue to bless this land; do our best and join President Muhammadu Buhari in taking the Niger Delta to the next level.”

  • ‘Pesticides affecting farmers’ produce

    A consultant to the World Bank, Prof. Abel Ogunwale, has urged government to take steps to control the flow of chemical pesticides to save agribusiness from financial losses.

    Ogunwale said farmers who use pesticides or fertiliser on their crops risk reduced yield or their produce being damaged or destroyed.

    Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture to control pests, they are among the range of measures farmers take to protect their crops.

    Ogunwale said the use of substandard, fake and counterfeit pesticides has serious implications for farmers, saying such agro-chemicals not only fail to take care of pests, but also inflict damage on crops and the environment. They also result in losses to farmers because of lower yields.

    Aside from revenue loss, Ogunwale said substandard pesticides have negative consequences for end users as well.

    According to Ogunwale, fertile lands require special care to ensure high productivity, resistance to pests and diseases, and maintenance of the soil biodiversity.

    He urged the government to step up efforts to properly regulate the sale and distribution of farming inputs used for soil fertility and pest control.

  • AIICO gets Executive Director

    The Board of Directors of AIICO Insurance Plc has appointed Mr. Olusola Ajayi as Executive Director, its Head, Strategic Marketing & Communications Department, Segun Olalandu, announced in Lagos.

    In a statement, he said it follows the approval of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

    Olusola is an experienced business leader with over fifteen years’ leadership positions in management consulting and insurance in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He joined AIICO in 2009 as head of the Business Strategy and Transformation teams.

    In 2013, ‘Sola assumed leadership of the retail life insurance business, and has led the transformation of the agency business, by deploying cutting-edge solutions and enabling capabilities which has resulted in significant growth in the company’s annual premiums and asset under management (AUM).

    Prior to joining AIICO, he worked at the prestigious consulting firm Accenture (Lagos) in the Financial Services market unit, before joining Deloitte Consulting (London, UK). As a business consultant in both firms, he supported/led business transformation initiatives in Strategy, Process Optimisation and Technology Deployments.

    In this new position, he will oversee the group retail division, with a mandate to drive growth across the group retail businesses and retaining AIICO as an industry leader.

    Mr. Olusola currently serves as Chairman of the Board of AIICO Multishield Limited, the Group’s Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO). He holds an MBA from INSEAD and obtained his first degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos. Sola is a certified Project Manager as well as a Senior Member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.

  • ‘Maritime reforms to encourage FDI’

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said the Federal Government’s policies in the maritime industry were targeted at encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the sector.

    While addressing delegates at the West African Shipping Summit, a side event of the ongoing London International Shipping Week, he said the country will set up an International Maritime Arbitration Centre in Lagos, to facilitate the timely resolution of disputes within the Gulf of Guinea area.

    This, according to him, will significantly reduce the current trend where maritime players in the region head to London, Dubai or Singapore for arbitration on maritime issues.

    He assured the key players in the global maritime industry that the reforms in the maritime sector were opening up opportunities and invited investors to take advantage of the opportunities.

    He said: “I believe that the Nigerian maritime environment has the largest potential. With a population of about 200 million, which represents over half of the entire population of West Africa, potentials in shipbuilding and ship repair are available.”

  • Group seeks reconciliation in Ondo APC

    Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Ondo State, a group, Continuity For Good Governance (CGG), has called for peace and unity among All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

    The group is championing the second term bid of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). At its stakeholders meeting in Ijapo, Akure , the state capital, the group appealed to party members  to embrace unity.

    It urged party loyalists to chart a new course for the development of the party and the state.

    A communique by its Director of Publicity, Prince Kayode  Ehinlanwo, said the party cannot afford the continuation of rancour and disharmony  amongst APC gladiators.

    The group said: “As a matter of fact, nobody can deny the narrative of unprecedented infrastructural developments across Ondo State, and the regular payment of salary and pension to the retirees, in spite of harsh economic realities.

    “The ongoing industrial revolution in Ore and other parts of the state will create more jobs for our youths and increase the state IGR.

    “We are not saying that those who show interest to be governor are not qualified. They are all qualified. Some are even qualified to be President, but all cannot be governor at the same time. More so, when we have a preforming governor in place.

    “We, therefore, appeal to our leaders across the state to prioritise the interest of our people  and join hands with Mr Governor to move the party and the state forward.”

    The group also implored Akeredolu  to take charge of the party and bring every member, irrespective of their backgrounds or groups, together in the interest of the state.

    It added: “We implore Akeredolu as the leader of the party to bring his arbitrating expertise and ample humility into play, to pacify the aggrieved and assure loyalists.”

    The group urged the people to keep faith with Akeredolu.

    It said: “Akeredolu means well for the overall development of the state. He has integrity and he is a Governor whose words are his bound with total commitment to his oath of allegiance to govern the state with excellence.”

  • Ihedioha: I have done my best in 100 days

    Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha reiterated his commitment to repositioning the state.

    In his address at an event to mark his 100 days in Owerri, the state capital, the governor said he was on course.

    He said the Imo Growth and Strategic Development Agenda plan (G-SDP), a two stage development horizon of a five year economic blueprint conceived by the  Transition Technical Commitee, provided the roadmap for the economic growth and development of the state.

    The governor promised pursue focus on an economic growth and Strategic human capital development, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, industrialisation and job creation as well as security and environment.

    Ihedioha said within 100 days in office, “the State Internal Generated Revenue, IGR, increased from all time low of about 300m in July to 600m in August.

    He added: “This was as a result of transparency and accountability in the governance process with the signing into law, Executive Order 005 known as Treasury Single Account which consolidated all government revenues  under one account.”

    “Imo State is now on track to join open Governance partnership which now qualifies it for performance based grants of the World Bank and other multinational development institutions.”

    Ihedioha said he has paid workers salaries in the State, the backlog of local goverment workers and recalled  unjustly suspended directors, reversed some undeserved promotions and sponsored officers for capacity building programmes.

  • G7 okays $251m for African women

    Leaders of the G7 nations have approved $251 million in support of the African Development Bank (AfDB’s) Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative to support women entrepreneurs in Africa.

    AFAWA aims to raise up to $5 billion for women entrepreneurs while AfDB will provide $1 billion financing. The risk-sharing mechanism used by AFAWA is a practical approach to international commitments.

    AFAWA was adopted during a summit of African Heads of State in 2015 and assigned to the AfDB for implementation.

    The cash was announced at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France.

    French President/current G7 president, Emmanuel Macron said: “I am particularly proud, as the current G7 president that the programme we are supporting today, the AFAWA initiative, comes from an African organisation, the AfDB, which works with African guarantee funds and a network of African banks.”

    AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina lauded the “extraordinary support of all the G7 heads of state and government, which will provide incredible momentum” to the AFAWA programme. “This is a great day for African women. Investing in women entrepreneurs in Africa is important, because women are not only Africa’s future, they are Africa’s present,” he said.

  • Event managers set to hold conference

    Association of Professional Party Organizers and Event Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN) will hold The Event Industry Conference (TEIC) 2019 in Lagos from September 18th – 22nd.

    Its Vice President, Mrs Adefunke Kuyoro, who spoke at a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos, said the event will bring together key professionals from across the country, adding that there will be a spectrum of events service providers, to share experiences, perspectives, insights and latest developments in the events industry.
    According to her, the event with the theme ‘Stepping Up’ is full of technical sessions and poster sessions on cutting edge issues related to our industry.

    She added that there will be opportunities for networking and socializing with colleagues. “This event presents an opportunity to put company’s brand ahead if not at par with industry leaders and players in the event space, for all attendee.”

    She explained that APPOEMN is an association with a mix of seasoned events professionals that have been at the forefront of event planning and coordination in Nigeria, for the past 15 years.
    “The event industry contributes 55bn to GDP in budgets and beyond. There is so much we represent and add to our social living in the nation. The event industry which have always been a part of our culture, has received a sudden boost. There is a desire to mix international growing trends with existing traditions. ”
    She called on all vendors, decorators, planners and venue owners among other service providers in the event industry to step up their game in the industry, noting that the more excellent brands the better the event industry in the country.

    “At APPOEMN, we ensure the standards in the industry are maintained, including integrity, ensuring good job is done as paid for. We also discuss industry trends on how it advances our event industry in the country.”
    She urged government to work with the industry in putting some legislation in place to ensure safety measures in the industry, including those event halls must have fire extinguishers, entry and exit entrances as well as escape route in case of emergencies,” she said.

    APPOEMN Public Relations Officer, Bose Abisagboola, said the event will have seasoned speakers to speak on the event industry, saying it is geared towards stepping up all events brands in the country to enable them do their business in the best way.

    “The event will feature masterclass of which 250 participants are expected and it will be followed with after party. Second day will be for our corporate social responsibility, which is our best way to serve our country in a give back approach. We will be working with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to coordinate traffic from 7am-9am at the Allen junction in Ikeja on Lagos mainland and first roundabout at Lekki on the Lagos Island simultaneously.

    “Then we will continue with what we call ‘yardsale’. It will be an avenue to those already in the industry to sell off event industry items to those just starting at cheap prices. Day3. Will be the dinner and award night of which the industry best will be given the TEIC Award. There has been nomination of the industry best in various event category and online voting,” she said.