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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Oba of Benin appeals to South Africa to end hostility toward Nigerians

    Oba of Benin appeals to South Africa to end hostility toward Nigerians

    His Royal Highness, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, has appealed to South African Government to take measures to end hostility toward Nigerians in that country.

    The Oba of Benin made the call at a reception and Cultural display held in his honour by Edo indigenes residing in Abuja on Saturday.

    He said that Nigeria contributed a lot for South Africa to be freed from Apartheid, as well as helped Angola.

    According to him, we are sad that Nigerians are constantly being bombarded with hostility and aggression.

    “We appeal to South African Government to do its best to stamp out hostility toward Nigerians as the country played a great role in the fight against apartheid, so that Nigerians can live in peace in their country.

    “This will enable Nigerians to reap what they sowed in other African countries.’’

    The Oba also emphasised the need to uphold the Edo culture and value system.

    “I want you to please uphold your culture very high, hold our value system seriously and do not let anybody destroy it because that is the identity we have.

    “Anywhere you go, their culture is very important to them, so let us not import other people’s culture from foreign land to supersede our own. That is why I try to encourage the use of indigenous language in the home.

    “That is why I also want to encourage the re-introduction of Edo language in schools and it is worrisome that history is not taught in our schools.’’

    He urged Edo indigenes in Abuja to do their best to uphold the unity of the country.

    “I want to plead with all indigenes of Edo in Abuja to do their best to keep operate within the law, abide by the rules and regulation of the country and try not to find a way to use shortcut to breach established regulations in whatever you are doing.

    “We will be praying that you succeed in whatever legitimate activities you lay your hands on.’’

    The Edo monarch also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for receiving him at the Vila and also for the support he accorded him during and after his coronation.

    The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki said that the position of the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II was sacrosanct.
    According to him, the Oba’s responsibility is not only to preserve the tradition and culture of the people of great Benin Kingdom, but to also ensure that peace, harmony, and justice prevail among his subjects.

    The governor, who was represented by Mr Festus Osaigbovo, the Director-General, Edo Liaison Office, Abuja, said that the Oba upon ascending the throne, ensured that there was peace and justice in the land.

    “Permit me to mention that in the past one year of my administration, the state has been relatively peaceful.

    “A lot has been achieved owing much to the tremendous support and cordial relationship with the Oba’s palace.’’

    Alslo speaking, the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole expressed delight that the Oba had built on the enviable foundation laid by his forefathers.

    “Those of us who have watched your actions, your pronouncement, your styles and your carriage are proud to have you as our paramount traditional ruler.

    “By your title, you are the Oba of Benin but in truth you are the Royal Father of Edo.

    “We are proud of our father, we are respected because of our intelligence, creativity and because of our resourcefulness, Edo man will never take second.

    “This is why our Oba is number one.’’

    Mr Dickson Omoregie, the Chairman of Edo community in Abuja, solicited the permission of the Oba of Benin to erect a Bini House for the display of artefacts of the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom.

    According to him, this will accommodate the Benin Cultural artefacts for local and international viewership, to be unveiled by the President and witnessed by other Heads of State.

    NAN

  • Buhari commiserates with Egypt over attacks on mosque

    Buhari commiserates with Egypt over attacks on mosque

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolences to the government and people of Egypt over the heartless attacks on a mosque in North Sinai that left many dead after prayers on Friday.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, condemned the dastardly act on innocent worshipers.

    He said that the attacks has further reinforced the position that terrorism has no relationship or respect for any religion, and should be visited with the full wrath of the law.

    The President reiterated that the workable panacea to such mindless and irresponsible attacks on citizens would be a global joint action that continually shares intelligence, simulates scenarios and regularly updates on both local and international threats.

    He prayed that the almighty God will receive the souls of the departed, and comfort the families of those directly affected.

    Read Also: Buhari charges religious movements to fight corruption

  • 20 burnt to death in Imo auto accident 

    20 burnt to death in Imo auto accident 

    No fewer than 20 persons were Friday burnt to death when a tanker laden with petrol fell and exploded on the Njaba bridge close to Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    According to an eyewitness account the tanker that was headed to Owerri, suddenly lost control while climbing the hill on the Njaba Bridge and started rolling back before it capsized and burst into flames, which engulfed on an eighteen seater bus that was following behind and burnt the whole occupants to death.

    However when contacted, the Imo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Joseph Aremu, confirmed the accident but said that the casualty figure was not yet ascertained.

    He said that his men were on ground at the scene of the accident to control traffic and render assistance to surviving victims.

    Read Also: Owerri: City of statues

  • NLC seek timeline for new minimum wage committee

    NLC seek timeline for new minimum wage committee

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) said Friday that the congress will be canvassing for specific timeline for the negotiation of the new national minimum wage by the Tripartite Committee appointed by the President saying the issue was long overdue.

    NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in an interview that the congress expects the committee to consider the plight of Nigerian workers and pensioners during its deliberation in view of the current purchasing power of Nigerians.

    After nearly 16 months of agitations, the federal government on Thursday night announced the appointment of a 30 man committee made up of representatives of the federal government, Nigeria Governors Forum, Organised Labour and Employers to negotiate a new national minimum wage.

    The committee which will be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa on Monday, November 27 is expected to come up with a new minimum wage for all employers in both the public and private sector in the country.

    Wabba said: “The tripartite committee was the struggle of labour. It is something that we have expected long before now and so, I will say that it is a welcome development. Workers are concerned because of the challenged in the economy, so it is a welcome development that the tripartite committee has been appointed.

    “We hope that after the inauguration, the committee will commence work immediately so that we can cover some mileage and also cover the times that has been lost because this is something that workers have longed anticipated. We look forward to a speedy process because the issues are quite obvious.

    “If you look at the exchange rate, you discover that we virtually import most of the things we used and if you look at the exchange rate when the N18, 000 minimum wage was negotiated and an agreement signed in 2011, you discovered that it was almost equivalent to N110 to a dollars

    “Today, N18, 000 is less than 46 dollars and the reality of the situation is that the purchasing power of the ordinary Nigeria worker has dropped drastically. Our expectations is that the tripartite committee should look at the conditions of the Nigeria worker and pensioners and arrive at something concrete for them.

    “Let me tell you that there are places where pensioners are receiving less than N4000 and that calls for urgent consideration so that the whole issue of social imbalance and the issue of inequality and the widening gap of poverty can be addressed because you also know that there is lack of employment, therefore workers have a lot of burden taking care of their dependents.

    “There is no worker today that does not cater for several dependents. So it something that is timely and our expectation is that the process must be driven with all commitment and above all they should take in to contents the condition of workers and pensioners”.

  • Lagos moves to check drink-driving

    Lagos moves to check drink-driving

    The Lagos State Government, in conjunction with Lagos Traffic Radio 96.1FM, on Friday launched an exercise to check incidents of drink-driving and resultant fatalities, especially during end of year festivities.

    Mrs Kofoworola Awobamise, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, flagged off a road show at the Lagos Traffic Radio office complex in Ikeja, as part  of the exercise.

    Awobamise said that the event was coming at a crucial time of the year.

    “For me, this is a welcome advocacy, especially at this time of the ember months usually associated with accidents.

    “Accidents do not come as a result of the name of the months, but as a result of careless driving. A lot of the careless driving we get is as a result of drink-driving.

    “Basically, what we’re saying is that you should not drink while driving and if you must drink, don’t drive. It’s a message to all Lagosians.

    “You do not have to drink and drive if we are to take accidents off our roads. It is a very good initiative and we must say kudos, first to the governor, to have allowed this to happen at the Traffic Radio.

    The General Manager of the radio station, Mr Layinka Adagun, said the road show was to complement what other sister radio stations were doing as regards forestalling accidents on Lagos roads.

    According to him,  drink driving is being emphasised because it has always been the main cause of accidents at this time of the year.

    “So, we are trying to help the society demystify the ember months by saying ‘don’t drink and drive’.

    “When you don’t drink and drive, you will find that there will be less accidents in the ember months,” he said.

    Adagun said that the event was focused particularly on motor parks, as the drivers were most vulnerable to road accidents.

    “We are picking motor parks across the zones of Lagos.

    “We are starting today with Berger motor park and we will end up in Ikeja,” he said.

    Adagun said that next week, the road show would be at Iyana- Ipaja down to Iyana Iba.

    “The week after, we will go from Mazaza to Kola area. We’ll still go to Ojota, Ketu and Ikorodu. The last lap will be from CMS to Ajah, before wrapping it up at Epe,” he said.

    NAN

  • Umahi appoints Ex- Deputy Gov. EBSU acting VC

    Umahi appoints Ex- Deputy Gov. EBSU acting VC

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed a former Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University ( EBSU ).

    The Secretary to the State Government, Prof Bernard Odo, made the development known in a statement in Abakaliki on Friday.

    Odo said that the governor, who as the university’s visitor, directed that Ogbu would replace Prof. Francis Idike whose appointment as the acting vice-chancellor would elapse on Nov.26.

    “Idike has been operating as the university’s acting vice- chancellor for the past six months while Ogbu’s tenure, which commences from Nov.27, will also last for six months,” he said.

    Odo said the governor also approved the termination of Ogbu’s appointment as the university’s Pro Chancellor to enable him to assume duties in the new position.

    He said the governor also approved the appointment of a former Minister of Culture and tourism, Chief Franklin Ogbuewu, as the university’s Pro-Chancellor with effect from Monday, Nov.27.

    Ogbu was Deputy Governor from 2003 to 2011.

    Ogbuewu is also the Chairman of the Ebonyi Elders Council.

    NAN

  • Let’s stop violence against women today

    Let’s stop violence against women today

    The world we live in is satiated with various malevolent practices; one of which is violence.

    Violence against women is regarded a hard crime propelled by bias.

    According to Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of United Nations ( UN ) in 2006, “violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions.”

    At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in their lifetime with the abuser usually someone known to her.

    Women all over the world are victims of various kinds of violent treatment from the society, especially men.

    Categories of violence against women include rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment, female infanticide (which involves the deliberate killing of female newborns), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)- Female circumcision.

    Other forms include marriage by abduction, honour killing, sexual slavery forced prostitution and women trafficking.

    Sexual harassment is the cohesion of a sexual nature.

    It involves unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favours, verbal or physical harassment.

    Though there are laws against sexual harassment, but these laws do not forbid offhand comments or simple teasing.

    The International day for the elimination of violence against women was designated by UN on 17th December 1999,

    in honour of the Mirabal sisters.

    The Mirabal sisters – Patria Mercedes Mirabal Reyes,

    María Argentina Minerva Mirabal Reyes and Antonia Maria Teresa Mirabal Reyes were from the Republic of Dominican.

    They stood to oppose the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo (the Dominican dictator at that time).

    They were involved in secretive activities against his regime.

    All three of them were assassinated on their way home by Trujillo’s henchmen on November 25, 1960.

    Their demise became symbols of popular and feminist resistance.

    So in 1999, United Nations General Assembly chose November 25 to be the International day for the elimination of violence against women, with Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka as the Executive Director of UN women.

    This day is celebrated annually worldwide.

    This movement started with the aim of raising awareness that women all over the globe are subject to all forms of violent practices; this is a pointer to the fact that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.

    Some people believe that women should not do some kind of jobs because they are women (gender inequality). In fact, some totally go against women having a say in their homes or choosing who they want to spend the rest of their lives with (forced marriage).

    Others see them as punching bags that are readily available for them to vent their anger (domestic violence).

    This is why we should all arise to fight against this menace that it eating deep into our societies.

    Cases of domestic violence, rape and the likes should have weighty penalties which would serve as a lesson to others.

    It starts with you, whoever you are, wherever you may be, support the elimination of violence against our mothers, our sisters, our daughters and friends and the world be a better place to live in.

    Orange your world!

  • NLC advises FG’s committee on minimum wage

    NLC advises FG’s committee on minimum wage

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has called on the Tripartite Committee for the new National Minimum Wage to consider the plight of workers and pensioners during its deliberations and initiate decisions that will improve the lives of the generality of Nigerians.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, made the call in an interview on Friday in Abuja.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, appointed a 30-member Tripartite Committee for the negotiation of the New National Minimum Wage for workers in the country.

    The committee has its members across both federal, state and the private sector and would be inaugurated on Nov. 27.

    While commending the President for the appointment of the committee, Wabba said it was timely and long overdue.

    “We hope that after the inauguration, the committee can commence work immediately so that we can cover some mileage and also cover the times that have been lost.

    “This is something that workers have long anticipated and our expectation is that we want a speedy process and that the fact that the issues are very obvious.

    “If you look at the exchange rate, the N18,000 Minimum Wage of 2011 when we signed the agreement, it was almost equivalent to N110 dollars; today, the N18,000 is less than 46 dollars.

    “So, this is the reality and with the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerian worker, with the high cost of transaction, our expectation is that the committee should look at the conditions of the Nigeria workers and pensioners.’’

    He, however, expressed dismay that there were places where pensioners were still receiving less than N4000 and that this called for an urgent consideration.

    The NLC president said that the consideration was imperative to address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country.

    “As you are aware, there is lack of employment in the country, therefore, workers have a lot of burden like taking care of their children and other dependents.

    “So, there is no worker today that does not cater for dependents.

    “Therefore, our expectation is that the process must be driven with all commitment and above all, they should take into consideration, the condition of workers and pensioners,” he added.

    NAN

  • CAN, Muslim council condemn Adamawa killings

    CAN, Muslim council condemn Adamawa killings

    The Adamawa Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) and Muslim Council have condemned the perpetrators of the Mubi Mosque suicide attack and the killings in Numan that led to loss of many lives and properties in the state.

    The groups, in separate news conferences in Yola, presided by the Chairman of CAN, Most Rev. Stephen Mamza, and his counterpart of Muslim Council, Alhaji Abubakar Sahabo, called for the fishing out of the perpetrators to face justice.

    While calling for panel of inquiry to fish out the perpetrators of the killings, the faith organizations called on their members to be extra vigilant and check persons and vehicles entering places of worship to curtail suicide attacks.

    “We are deeply distressed over the killings of women and children in some villages of Numan LGA on Monday. CAN condemns in strong terms, the killings of unarmed civilians especially little children and women.

    “This is by all standard of war, condemnable and unacceptable. We call on the government to bring to book the perpetrators of this wicked act to forestall any future occurrence,” Mamza said.

    He reiterated CAN’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with all individual and groups.

    “We call on all to embrace peace, shun hate speech and anything that will incite the general public to breach of public order.”

    Sahabo on his part, called on the state government to take full responsibility of injured victims including compensation for the dead, and tasked security agencies to provide adequate security cover in all vulnerable places.

    “The Muslim Council wishes to reiterate its commitment to help in the maintenance of peace and peaceful coexistence among diverse people of the state.

    “However, we urge the state government and security agencies to always take decisive and necessary lawful measures on those elements and agents who provoke state of fear and destruction in the state,” Sahabo said.

    The many people died in Monday’s Numan attack and Tuesday Mubi mosque bomb blast suspected to be perpetrated by Boko Haram and a militia group.

    NAN

  • Enugu approves N1.5b for rehabilitation of 14 rural, urban roads

    Enugu approves N1.5b for rehabilitation of 14 rural, urban roads

    The Enugu State Executive Council has approved N1.5 billion for the reconstruction of 14 critical roads in Enugu metropolis and some rural communities.

    The Commissioner for Works, Mr Greg Nnaji, made the disclosure in Enugu on Friday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the council meeting held at the government House.

    Nnaji said that the approval was given after an extensive deliberation on various issues affecting the state, especially with regard to infrastructure, security and human capacity development.

    He said that contracts for the urban roads were awarded with the aim of rehabilitating feeder roads to ease traffic on major city roads.

    According to him, the focus on rural roads is consistent with the current administration’s vision to improve the living standards of rural dwellers and build new cities.

    The commissioner said that the council decided to decongest the Nike Lake Road as part of government’s urban renewal strategy.

    “The council approved the linking of Ezike-Mgbowo-Nike Lake Road extension in Enugu East Local Government Area.

    “This is a popular road, and once this road is linked, people coming into Enugu from other states can drive through it to access the airport or continue their journey to destinations such as Anambra State,” he said.

    Nnaji noted that all the roads were strategic, adding that some would serve as necessary bypass to decongest the ever -busy Nike Lake Road.

    The commissioner said that some of the rural roads including the Ogrute-Umuogbo Ulo-Isiugwu-Umuokpu-Ette Road in Igbo-Eze North LGA, linking neighbouring Benue State, had for years not experienced any form of construction.

    He gave the breakdown of the contract to include reconstruction of Ohom-Orba-Amajioka-Umuikeoha-Agu Orba Road and Okpu-Agu Orba Road in Udenu Local Government Area at the cost of N377 million.

    Also approved is the reconstruction/rehabilitation of Ngenevu Road and Broderick Street in Coal Camp, in Enugu North council area at the cost of N117 million.

    Others include the rehabilitation of Njemanze Entrance, Bonny Lane, Asata Chemist Lane and New Market Roundabout-Civil Defence Headquarters-Works Road, all in Enugu North Local Government Area.

    Equally approved are procurement of an incidence response vehicle for the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency ( SEMA ) and the establishment of the Enugu State Multi-Door Court House for connected purposes in the state Ministry of Justice.

    The state executive council also approved fumigation of 425 primary, secondary, science and technical schools to ensure a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

    NAN