The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Alaafin: avoid those dividing us

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has called for unity and oneness among the Yoruba, saying through unity development can be accomplished.

    Oba Adeyemi spoke on Tuesday at the inauguration of the  Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) in Ibadan.

    The monarch, who chaired the event, noted that some elements were trying to divide the Yoruba, but warned that the people must be careful and ensure unity.

    He emphasised that people must love and be peaceful for unity to be achieved in the region.

    “Some people want to divide the Yoruba but we should be very careful. We should continue to live in peace, one love and unity so that we can have the desired development. There is no love within us in Yorubaland, and we have to learn how to live in love and peace within ourselves; and I can assure you that this will foster the development we are yearning for.”

    Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the quality of the leadership of the CCII made him a proud Ibadan man, noting that the leadership style of the Yemi Soladoye-led council was worth commending.

    He recounted that money was raised to build an ultra-modern palace for the Olubadan, but it was unfortunate the project was yet to be completed.

    The ex-governor said he would contribute more to complete the project.

    Read Also: Democracy must thrive, says Alaafin

    “During my tenure …we raised N240 million to build an ultra-modern palace for the Olubadan, but it is quite unfortunate that the palace is yet to be completed. But I will continue to contribute my efforts to make sure the project is completed.”

    CCII‘s President-General Yemi Soladoye called on indigenes to contribute to development of the city.

    He hailed the achievements of the last executive, saying the city was still a long way to go.

    Soladoye said: “Despite the fact that we have made some modest progress in the life of Ibadanland, there is still a long way to go as a people. The fate of Ibadanland has been left for too long in the hands of nobody. Most of us see just the privileges of being Ibadan indigenes and not the responsibilities.

    “The aspects of Ibadanland that is known to the rest of the world are a people that lack political unity, people with crisis in their traditional system, people with fragmented leadership and the most populated single ethnic group in Nigeria that does not have its own state, palace or united ethnic agenda.

    “We are a people that do not appreciate our self worth and the leadership role we must play in Yorubaland. We are loved and respected by others, but we hate ourselves with passion.

    “We are a people that prefer to cede our love to outsiders than to ourselves, and our fighting strength exhibited more at home than outside.”

    Dignitaries present were the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; the Eleruwa of Eruwa Oba Samuel Adegbola; Chief Bode Amoo; Commissioner of Police Shina Olukolu, among others.

    The Ibadan House headquarters of the council, a police station, among others, were also opened.

  • Imo eyes five-year development plan

    Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has said his administration is planning a five-year economic blueprint to restore the state to its former glory.

    Ihedioha, who spoke at Nigeria’s 59th Independence anniversary celebration in Owerri, said the development agenda would be known as ‘Imo Growth and Strategic Development Plan’.

    The governor said his administration had built a strong institutional framework for good governance, adding that “we have adopted the ethics of due process in government transactions.

    Ihedioha, who hinted that Imo State now operates the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system, which was boosting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), noted that the civil service had taken its pride of place as the engine room for the delivery of government services.

    Read Also: Imo Tribunal: Nwosu raises the alarm over refusal to release judgment

    He said: “Reforms are on to improve service delivery motivate the workforce and right the wrongs inflicted on the psyche of the personnel. We have embarked on a comprehensive plan of overhauling our infrastructure. Works are beginning shortly for the reconstruction of 14 critical roads.

    “It is important to state that we are reviewing our security architecture to ensure security and restoration of confidence in government.”

  • Govt probes suspected flu epidemic in Queen’s College

    The Lagos State Ministry of Health has begun investigation into allegations of an air borne flu-like disease at Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.

    However, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Mr. Sonny Echono, said there is no recurrence of food and water bacterial disease which claimed the lives of three pupils in 2017.

    Echono and a team from the Lagos State Ministry of Health visited the school on Tuesday to investigate claims of an epidemic outbreak.

    Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi Abayomi, said in a statement by Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, that the state had assembled an investigative team.

    It comprises officials of State Epidemiology Team and the Primary Health Care Services and Environmental Health Department of Lagos Mainland Local Government.

    They are to unravel the cause of the flu-like disease, which he said was worth investigating considering the number of pupils affected.

    Based on preliminary reports of the investigations conducted by the team, Abayomi said it had identified what appears to be a sporadic increase in upper respiratory tract infections characterised by cough, catarrh, fever and weakness across some schools.

    The Commissioner noted that the incidences were not an outbreak of any sort but excess number of cases that needed to be investigated.

    Read Also: ‘Epidemic’ sends hundreds of Queen’s College pupils home

    He said: “The team has since visited Queen’s College and investigations are ongoing. Findings according to the review of health records in the school sick bay revealed that 89 students presented to the clinic with Influenza like illnesses.”

    Abayomi noted that nasal swab samples will be collected from pupils for confirmation of the cause of the illness.

    He said: “As we await comprehensive report of the investigation being conducted, I would like to appeal to stakeholders of Queen’s College, other affected schools and residents of Lagos State to remain calm and ensure strict adherence to personal and environmental hygiene at all times.

    “I assure you that the situation is under control and seems to be subsiding. We will give necessary updates as the assessment and investigation progresses.”

    He advised parents not to send their wards to school if they have symptoms of cold or flu.

    Abayomi  continued: “To parents, please do not send your children to school if they have features of an upper respiratory tract infection such as a cold or flu like symptoms but rather have your doctor review them.”

    Echono told the News Agency Nigeria (NAN) that there was no epidemic in the school.

    He said: “I want to say that all such reports going round about outbreak of epidemic in Queen’s College are total falsehood.

    “As I am speaking with you, I just left that school about one hour ago and on my way back to the airport en-route Abuja.

    “I chose to dash down to Lagos to see things for myself, because such stories are damaging.

    “On getting to the college, I went straight to the sick bay. Yes I saw a few students being attended to on account of flu and malaria.

    “I spoke with the nurse at length, spoke with the doctor, the principal and some other persons. Wwhat I discovered is that the students were majorly having flu and malaria, nothing more.

    “I was equally conducted round the college to do some inspection and based on this, I can confidently tell you that there is nothing like epidemic.”

    When our reporter visited the college yesterday, the security men denied him access.

    The reporter was told that  the Principal, Mrs Oyinloye Yakubu, was not around because of the holiday.

    Some parents said they came to pick their children y for treatment.

    One of the pupils said she was suffering from fever; another said she was vomiting, but had received treatment.

    A parent alleged that many pupils took ill, but that the cause had not been ascertained.

    She said: “A whole lot of these girls are ill.  Many of them were in the sick bay.  But nobody can pinpoint the exact cause of their illness.”

    Another parent who had come to pick his  daughter dismissed the news with a wave of the hand.  He noted that there was nothing like infection-breakout in the school.

    Most of the students who came in tendered a doctor’s report at the security post before being allowed in.

    A particular girl whose slip did not bear the doctor’s report was told to go back home by security operatives.

    The Principal answer her calls on Sunday, as they rang out.

    She did not return the calls, nor did she respond to a text message sent to her as at press time.

  • Oyo warns illegal tax collectors

    Oyo State Government on Tuesday warned illegal tax collectors issuing out fake tickets to commercial motorists at motor parks in the state and claiming to be acting on behalf of the government to desist or risk serious sanction.

    The government stressed that the proscription on union activities in the state was still place.

    The state’s Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Prof. Raphael Afonja, who issued this warning while on inspection of motor parks in the Ibadan metropolis, said that some individuals were still illegally issuing tickets to motorists on behalf of the government.

    He described such an action as extortion, saying that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration had put a ban on the activities of transport unions in the state.

    Afonja said that the government was working out modalities to put things in shape as regards the status of transport unions in the state so as to make life easy for motorists and everyone.

    He, therefore, declared the sale of tickets to motorists by anyone in the state at the moment as an illegal action, and should be stopped forthwith as anyone found flouting the laws would be sanctioned.

    The commissioner said: “We have got information from all angles and every corner of the state of some unscrupulous individuals that are issuing receipts to motorists at motor parks and claiming to represent government or any transport union.

    “I wish to restate the stand of the state governor on this. The ban on activities of transport union is still in place and anyone caught issuing receipts and collecting money at the parks will be seriously dealt with according to the law.

    Read Also: Obiano orders clampdown on illegal revenue collectors

    “The action of the government is for the benefit of the people of the state that have been the direct recipients of the activities of illicit activities at our parks and how it has been affecting smooth transportation of people and goods across the state.

    “We call on the people to immediately inform security personnel close to them whenever they find anyone collecting money under any guise at the park. That is extortion and we will not allow it.”

    He, therefore, charged motorists to desist from loading passengers by the roadsides by moving back to the public parks provided for this purpose, adding that the act would no longer be condoned by the authorities as anyone caught flouting the order would be severely dealt with.

    Meanwhile, no fewer than three major markets in Oyo town were sensitised on the need to maintain clean environment during an awareness campaign embarked upon by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources recently in the ancient town.

    The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Keyinde Ayoola, who led the sensitisation team comprising the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bashir Olanrewaju; directors and environmental health officers of the ministry as well as heads of local government administration in Oyo town, representatives of  Non-Governmental Organisations, and market leaders among others, said there was dire need to urgently embrace safe environmental habits by the residents in order to have quality living condition.

  • Ondo 2020: Group lobbies Boroffice

    A group, Ondo State All Progressives Congress Youth for Good Governance (OSAYGG) on Tuesday urged party stakeholders, youths, women and all residents in the state to join them in persuading the Senator representing Ondo North, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, to accept their request to declare interest in the 2020 governorship race.

    According to the group, the ranking Senator should oblige them their request, if he truly loves the state.

    It argued that Boroffice was the only person who had the capacity to rescue the state from its alleged backwardness.

    OSAYGG members, who converged on Akure ,the state capital, with leaders from the three senatorial districts, in a communique, urged Boroffice to accede to their request and declare for the governorship ticket of the APC in Ondo State without further delay.

    In the communique signed by its State Coordinator, Olaniyi Yusuf, and Prince Adewuyi Aderogba, the group regretted the alleged infrastructural decay, lack of security and jobs for the teeming youth and women in the state.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: Southwest PDP chair declares ambition

    It also frowned on the ‘unfriendly’ increment in tuition fees in all the state-owned tertiary institutions.

    According to the communique, Borrofice is the first lawmaker from the state to have completed several skills acquisition centres across the North District to train the people to become self-reliant.

    It read: “The Asiwaju of Akoko also constructed cashew processing plant, Bio-fuel ethanol and modern classrooms across Ondo North District, apart from emergency hospitals already completed and inaugurated.

    “The deputy majority leader is the most popular figure in the APC, who can defeat PDP in the coming election because he, inspite of all odds, defeated the ’emergency’ political party, ‘Action Alliance’ (AA) candidates, especially in Ondo North, to emerge as a third term Senator.”

    The group’s coordinator said the 150,000-strong membership across the state had agreed to commence a house-to-house mobilisation for APC immediately the Senator declares to run for the governorship seat.

  • Oyo, Lagos, Kaduna top 2.2m qualified teachers’ list

    Oyo, Lagos and Kaduna have emerged tops on the list of states with qualified teachers registered by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

    These qualified teachers in the three states are part of the about 2.2million so far registered with the TRCN, ahead of the December 31 deadline for all teachers in the country to register with the council.

    While Oyo State emerged tops with 5, 200 registered qualified teachers, Lagos has 5, 117 to come second; and Kaduna 4, 616.

    Also, the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) is the fourth with 4, 214 qualified registered teachers and followed by Plateau State with 3, 709.

    But the state with the least number of qualified registered teachers is Sokoto State with only 363, trailing Zamfara State with 397 and Cross River State with 570.

    TRCN Registrar, Prof. Segun Ajiboye, disclosed this during an interview with The Nation in Abuja.

    He said that 83 percent of qualified teachers that had so far registered with the council were from public schools.

    The Federal Ministry of Education had on June 7, 2019, sent a circular to all principals on the December 31 deadline for unqualified teachers to leave the teaching profession in the country.

    Ajiboye said that the council would not back down on the December 31 deadline to flush out unqualified teachers from Nigerian schools.

    The registrar explained that Nigeria needed quality teachers to deliver quality education and not those he called ‘quacks.’

    He said that the ultimate goal was to remove quackery from the teaching profession in order to ensure that only those with required competence give the Nigerian children quality education.

    Ajiboye said: “As at now, TRCN has registered over two million two hundred teachers that are qualified and registered with us. About two million two hundred teachers have so far registered with us.

    “But we know that this figure cannot capture even what we have. We have a larger number- more than four million teachers in our school system- and a large number of these people have not yet registered with TRCN and, therefore, the National Council on Education (NCE) gave that deadline of December 31st, 2019 for all teachers to get qualified, registered and licensed by the TRCN.

    “We are close to the deadline now and that is why this year we have done the first Professional Qualifying Examination in May. We are planning to have about two other Professional Qualifying Examinations. The next one is going to be in this month of October and we will have the last one before the deadline, which will come up in November.”

    The TRCN registrar said that over 60,000 candidates had applied to write the Professional Qualifying Examinations taking place nationwide next weekend.

    He urged those that had yet to register with the council to take the opportunity of the qualifying tests to do so before the deadline.

  • Best Car to Buy in Nigeria [Easy Maintenance and Low Fuel Consumption]

    If circumstances make you ponder over the best car to buy in Nigeria, here is a chance to shame it. At 21, I was obsessed about owning a car and thus, worried about the best car to buy in Nigeria. Today, I’m glad I didn’t die of obsession, but I’m excessively grateful for the experience! You must be wondering how, right or wrong? Well, I don’t read minds, but I sense thoughts.

    Carmart.ng which is Nigeria’s biggest car selling and buying platform brings you a complete review of the type of car to buy in Nigeria if you are looking to minimize fuel and pay low in maintenance.

    This being the case, however, buying a car in Nigeria isn’t at all the problem! The problem is the presence of the question: ‘What is the best car to buy in Nigeria?’ This problem is what I intend to fix with this article though. At least, you’ll find out that dreaming of a Bentley or Lambo is absurd.

    I will suggest cars that will bravely face a typical Nigerian road no matter the corner to steer into. Also, these cars will so much please you with their level of fuel consumption and easy maintenance.

    Don’t linger behind so that you’ll know the best car to buy in Nigeria for yourself or your loved one. No logic meant it’s all about the fact.

    What Sort of Cars Does Nigerians Really Have in Mind?

    If you ask a typical Nigerian for the best car to buy in Nigeria, you won’t like the responses. In fact, their response will discourage you from ever planning to buy a car in Nigeria. For instance, when my obsession was high, I asked around for the best car to buy in Nigeria, guess what? They advised me to get cars like Peugeot 504 or better still, opt for 90s Honda! Phew! They are too old!

    Would you blame their suggestions? The suggested cars may be economic in fuel consumption coupled with easy maintenance, but very old (outdated). I know quite well that you wouldn’t love to buy or acquire any old model car with your money. This is the reason I went extra-deep, as a car dealer, to pick out the best car to buy in Nigeria.

     

    Best Car to Buy in Nigeria and Enjoy Low Fuel Consumption and Easy Maintenance

    As promised, once you’re done with this section, you’ll no longer worry about the best car to buy in Nigeria. The cars I have on this list have been tested and trusted. To further add to this, I have been to showrooms and the car stands to make my suggestions concrete. The questions I asked and answered in the course of this finding are:

    • How easy it is to maintain the car.
    • Low fuel consumption support.
    • The pocket-friendliness of the car.
    • Durability
    • Ability to drive and last on Nigerian roads etc.

     

    These were very easy for me to do due to my insight knowledge on the best car to buy in Nigeria. Also aiding me was my car dealing intelligence, especially on Nigerian cars. We should now proceed on to highlighting the best car to buy in Nigeria in the order of their importance.

     

    Honda CR-V

    The Honda CR-V is a specifically reliable and unique car to own in Nigeria. I see this car as an all-weather Nigerian type of car. In fact, I’m convinced that this car is produced primarily for the environment and the financial standards of Nigeria. If you plan on getting a solid ride, consider Honda CR-V, a mini-cruiser that offers an SUV experience. How about its maintenance condition, is it at all favorable? Trust me, it is. My elderly uncle owns it as one of his lovely rides. Surprisingly, he tends to be most interested in this car! Could it be that it’s beautiful or that it is fast? Can you guess? Oh well, you might not guess well enough. The reason, according to him, is that the economy level of the car is top-notch. Little wonder why he prefers to roll around most often with it. I also enquired from the car stand and they so well confirmed this.

     

    Toyota Camry (The Princess Nigerian Vehicle)

    This car model is already a household name in Nigeria. Do you ever wonder why this is so? Before I proceed, I’d love to inform you of the high level of theft recorded on this brand of vehicle. This comes from experience and reports. One of the commonest ways of stealing the Toyota Camry, especially the tiny light is the use of special keys. However, this can be averted by simply being conscious of the environment you drive through or park your car.

    To the subject of discussion, Camry boasts of low fuel consumption and very easy to maintain. Also, the car parts are readily available around Nigeria at cheaper rates compared to certain brands.

     

    Toyota Corolla Sport 2006 Model

    During my findings, the Corolla model of Toyota is what I lastly questioned on. Even at that, I am certain that it merits the third spot in this article.

    It would have been better if Toyota named this car with something like ‘Toyota Corolla Fuel Efficient’, seriously. Apart from the Inquisition I’ve made in this car, I’ve also been opportune to house it for a week – the 2006 model. Being that I’m ‘fuel-conscious’, I closely studied how this baby four-wheeler consumed fuel. It’s satisfactory, I must say because spending on fuel isn’t part of the Toyota Corolla dictionary. I highly recommend this car as the best car to buy in Nigeria on economic grounds.

     

    RAV4

    Nothing as lovely as its rounded and sporty design.

    Fuel usage – 85%

    Handling – Decent

    Maintenance – Easy level (Depends on the car owner)

    Spare parts availability – Decent

    With the little spec up here, believe me, RAV4 is what you need. This is a mini-SUV that I’ve not experienced before. But I can attest to its utility-friendly nature that you ought to buy and own it as a car in Nigeria.

     

    The Acura MDX

    Lest I forget, the Acura MDX merited my list out of its sleekness, despite being a mini SUV! In some states of Nigeria like Akwa Ibom and Calabar, a working-class citizen pictures this car as the smartest deal. What is a car would you not find here, luxurious design but affordable? Is it a question on the low fuel consumption that we’re dwelling on? Maintenance?

     

    The Streamlined Honda Accord

    Another car to buy is this beast – the classy Honda Accord. I assessed the 2001 Honda Accord DX and the 2006 model. There was a slight difference in fuel consumption and I noticed that the later model is more optimized in the fuel category.

    Apart from the fuel aspect, the sleekness of the Honda Accord DX 2001 is what you’d want to acquire.

    The 2005 Honda Accord boasts of streamlined body design. It isn’t an SUV but man, the interior design is much favorable on the condition of maintenance. A couple of times, I’ve had conversations with the owners of this car model. The basis of my questions was on:

    • How fast does it consume fuel?
    • What do you spend annually on maintenance?

    The answers that came from the two Honda Accord owners were interesting. It is thus, the reason why I include it on my list. What I really focused on here is the maintenance ability. And yes, I must say that it’s satisfactory. On the basis of our subject, I recommend the Honda Accord on the classifications of low fuel consumption and maintenance.

     

    Why these Cars Make a Good Deal

    The cars on this list are no doubt the smartest deal you can sign up for. Do you still want me to give you reasons why these cars make a good deal? I can sense you doing ‘hmmm’. It’s okay, I’ll do anything to ease your desire.

    First, the listed cars did not just come to be on this list. Each of them has a list of questions and answers that accompany it. It is after answering the questions that I pick the best. Here are why these cars make a good deal!

    • The fuel consumption is minimal.
    • You do not have to be an expert before maintaining the car. In fact, owning this sort of car teaches you how to become a mechanical engineer. How? Finding and fixing problems on the car is as cheap as, name it.
    • Road friendliness is a high level.
    • User-friendliness.
    • Finally, the cost is certainly something you can plan for at convenience.

    Best Place to Buy These Car in Nigeria

    So you are pretty confused where you can get quality cars and be able to enjoy the car before they start giving you issues.

    At Carmart.ng, we make sure that all sellers have their cars inspected before uploading to our platform. This is to make sure that our buyers don’t buy cars that aren’t roadworthy.

    Also, the cars are screened to make sure that the issue of buying stolen cars don’t suffice on the platform.

    For more details on how to buy a car or sell a car in Nigeria, please click this link (how to buy a car on Carmart.ng)

  • Cars45 introduces emergency service

    An automotive trading platform, Cars45 has introduced an Emergency Service.

    The service, the firm said, is to deliver professional, quick-response services for stranded consumers at prompt notice.

    Cars45 Vice President, Customer and Dealer Experience, Oluseyi Folaranmi added that the service is aimed at bringing relief and comfort to road users.

    Roadside assistance ranging from jump-starting a vehicle if the battery loses charge, replacing a flat tire with a spare, delivering fuel to stranded vehicles, towing off disabled vehicles and lockout services for keys that have been locked inside the vehicle would be provided.

    Folaranmi added that the service is borne out of Cars45’s commitment to providing its valued customers with essential automotive services that make their lives easier and more productive.

    “The Emergency Service is testament to Cars45’s efforts at improving customer experience and bringing relief to road users on their journey. Our commitment is to consistently improve the nation’s automotive industry with extensive investment in developing solutions that make life better and delivers convenience to users on every trip,” Folaranmi said.

     

  • Commissioner urges Lagosians to obey traffic laws

    Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde has urged Lagosians to obey the state’s traffic laws and support ongoing reforms in the transport sector.

    This, he said, is to rid the state of gridlock.

    In a statement to mark his birthday today, Dr. Oladeinde said the best birthday wishes he would  appreciate  from Lagosians is when they allow free flow of traffic.

    He said the state will tomorrow hold a stakeholders’ meeting to unveil the government plans for achieving an improved traffic management system that will reduce productive human hours daily lost to traffic jam.

    Oladeinde added that the stakeholders’ meeting would also address major contributing factors to gridlock in the metropolis and how to improve on them for greater economic prosperity for the state.

    The commissioner noted that successive administrations had devised strategies such as the establishment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority,(LASTMA), Lagos State Metropolitan Traffic Management Agency,( LAMATA), Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), Light Rail System, Modern Ferry Service, Traffic Radio Station and others to tackle the menace of gridlock  in the metropolis.

     

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  • Mofe Duncan breaks silence over failed marriage

    Actor Mofe Duncan has broken the silence concerning rumours about his failed marriage, weeks after the news broke.

    The actor, who was married to Jessica Kakkad for three years before the marriage hit the rock last year, denied reports that his marriage to Jessica was his third time being married.

    Noting that he has only been married to Jessica, Duncan came out with this confession after being shamed by Instagram trolls for indirectly criticising Tasha’s character.

    An Instagram follower had claimed Duncan has been married and divorced three times.

    Duncan has taken to his Instagram to deny the allegation, saying it is not true: “@utty_benn you represent the group of people with this thought process that, so I will address you as those I am addressing. I have not been married three times… I have only been married once,” he said.

    “Also being divorced is not a terminally contagious disease, it also does not mean that you are a monster or the person you divorced is a monster from hell. Jess and I are still very good friends with mutual respect for each other and our respective families. Remember, Megan was divorced and still married a prince. God bless you @utty_benn and to those married, may God keep your home. To those divorced, may you find peace in your heart. And to those yet to marry, may you find the right person and may it last forever.

    Please, don’t believe all the blogs post, that’s how they said my sister @matilda_duncan gave birth in America because she posted her best friend’s baby.”