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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Six disasters to watch out for in the ‘ember months’

    Many Nigerians perceive the ember months — September, October, November and December- to be synonymous with mysterious happenings.

    Within these four months, a fever, perhaps sort of anxiety, grips most Nigerians.

    Without doubt, the ‘ember’ months are always the busiest on roads for many reasons and the air of festivity within these periods makes everyone ecstatic.

    From the religious perspective, many people believe these tragic occurrences are caused by evil spirits associated with these months.

    They argue it is a season when prayers should be intensified to curtail the incidence of evil.

    While this fear for the ‘Ember months’ seems to be a natural phenomenon, it is important that we also pay attention to the dangers that have now been associated to what is now termed “the ember months”.

    Fire Outbreak – Fire is one of the major causes of accident during Ember months because the air becomes dryer, thus encouraging chain reaction of fire.

    Ember months usually come with gradual subsiding of the rains and encroachment of the Harmattan haze.

    These Harmattan hazes fuel fire outbreak in marketplaces, offices, worship centers, farms, bushes

    Accidents – In Nigeria, the ember months are known as a period of hectic activity on roads.

    People use this end of year period to engage in business and travel to visit loved ones living far away.

    According to the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), a total of 5,181 Nigerians lost their lives in road traffic crashes (RTC) in 2018.

    Further analysis revealed that the top five causes of road accidents are:

    • Speed violation
    • Wrongful overtaking
    • Dangerous driving
    • Tyre burst
    • Brake failure.

    Other factors that also cause road accidents during this period are: excessive speeding, overloading and impatient passengers making passive comments to the driver while driving.

    Many drivers place their safety at risk by overloading their vehicles.

    Kidnapping – Though insecurity and kidnapping are not new in Nigeria, there are always on the increase in during the ember months.

    Kidnapping has evolved into a lingering, pervasive security threat and fast-paced and multifaceted criminal enterprise.

    It is now perpetrated by diverse armed groups and criminal gangs operating across the country

    Young and old have been victims; others have had the gruesome experience of loosing loved ones to these kidnappers.

    Robbery and other criminal activities – Some of the most common types of robberies experienced in Nigeria are home robberies, car robberies and bank robberies.

    Today, armed robbery is not only one of the biggest threat in Nigeria, but also a social scourge

    Robberies can occur almost anywhere at any time, but tend to occur more often in anticipated settings and at expected times.

    All that is necessary is a motivated robber and an unwilling victim at the wrong place at the wrong time.

    Excessive alcohol intake and smoking – Alcohol is a major factor in many speed-related crashes. Sadly, manufacturers of alcoholic beverages have not been very supportive of anti-drink drive campaigns.

    Small-sized bottles of alcoholic drinks are being consumed by drivers without a thought for safety on the road.

    In some advanced nations such as the United Kingdom, members of the public have adequate information about the legal alcohol limits.

    Reckless driving of commercial vehicles – Some drivers are very reckless. They see themselves as the kings of the road. So, they park, stop and swerve the car indiscriminately. Funny enough, they involve themselves in a car race to know who is a faster driver.

    While doing this, they mistakenly hit pedestrians crossing, traders or even bystanders. This can result in grave injuries or even deaths.

    All these acts are very dangerous to road users and needs to be looked into if we want people to be safe.

    As it has done over the past several years, it is expected that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) will once again embark upon its annual road safety campaign.

    In all that you do during this Ember months, remember to stay safe, be watchful and careful

  • WILFRED NDIDI: Why I went back to school in UK

    Ranked the best tackler in the world by a stats website whoscored.com, Nigeria and Leicester star Wilfred Ndidi is set to tackle the next phase of his career. To effectively do that, he told Taiwo Alimi he must first equipped himself by returning to the University.

    At only 22 and the world seemingly at his feet, Leicester tough tackler Wilfred Ndidi is already thinking about the future. His recent enrolment and admission to study Business and Management at De Montfort University (DMU) was born out his strong inclination to secure a bright prospect for himself after a career in football.

    Ndidi whose career has blossomed since moving to England in 2017 with World Cup and Africa Nations Cup appearances for Nigeria is eyeing a prospect in football related business in retirement.

    Ndidi moved to England when he signed for Leicester from Belgian side K.R.C. Genk and has aspired to return to school ever since.

    He said: “Since I moved to England I’ve been nursing that ambition to return to school to acquire new skills. It’s something I always to do because the opportunity was not there in Nigeria for me. I had the desire in Nigeria to continue my education in Nigeria but the opportunity was not there. I spent much of my time playing football.”

    Ndidi put his plans into action last year when he volunteered to work with the University located in Leicester.

    “I remember some of us (Leicester players) manning the university’s hotline and getting the opportunity to speak with students applying for clearing at DMU.  My club has a good relationship with DMU, and we joined the university staff to answer calls from students looking for advice on their course. “We made an acquaintance of Vice-Chancellor of DMU Dominic Shellard, who was happy to have us. He made us feel at home and I thought if I apply there I would not have any problem blending in.

    Of course we received many calls from Leicester fans used the opportunity to say hello to us. It was an enjoyable moment.”

    Ndidi noted that he won’t be the first Premiership star to school at MDU.

    “Ji Sing Park, former Manchester United star study Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, here and even played for the school. DMU has a robust relationship with Premiership players and that is how I got the idea to also study here.”

    To Ndidi’s excitement, his decision to acquire a university degree was greeted with greater excitement from his colleagues, Leicester management and his parents.

    “When I broke the news to my parents I wanted to expand my scope of knowledge by returning to school, they were greatly excited.”

    Happy parents

    “They are really proud but for me. Education is very important because growing up in Nigeria I wasn’t in school and then seeing other kids not been able to go to school because their parent could not afford it. It is just a personal thing for me that I want to expand myself and know a couple of things and understand.”

    They treat me nice

    “The environment is really amazing, though I come [to school] been cool, no one knows when I step into the class and go. Sometimes I park further away from DMU so I can take a walk onto campus. I really like it.

    I’m satisfied with the cooperation I’m getting from the teaching staff of the institution. Instead of sitting at home after training I come to DMU for my classes. The teachers have been amazing; they really try and help me understand.

    Rather than just reading books they take time to explain things to me and they very well understand my training Schedule. I can come and go out as I like and they are really helping me and I’m coping quite well.”

    Why Business and Management? Ndidi’s informed that his bigger plan revolves round this course.

    He plans to set up a soccer academy which would help young Africans improve their football talents and at the same time keep them in school. “Back home (Nigeria) so many kids aren’t able to go to school because their parents can’t afford it. I want to set up a football resort where people can stay and play football while getting an education at the same time. I think it’s really important to try to learn things outside of your normal life. I want to do something that I can be fully part of so it’s important I know something about business and management, even though I’m still going to be in football.”

    Married life

    Ndidi feels divine that he’s doing well for club and country and don’t want to take it for granted hence the reason he wants to give back to African kids. “It is inspiring that my name has been linked to the very best in Europe, at least in the area of tackling. I got married to my friend and woman and the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt was memorable. For me whatever is happening I always say I am lucky enough that I am one of the few privileged to have played football. There are a lot of stories of how footballers from where I come from have made it big due to the talent but for me, I believe it’s my hard work and the luck that God has given me.

    “I am just being real here – to come from where I come from, to be playing in the English Premier League and doing well. I don’t want to take that for granted. I’ve got to give back.” Ndidi also thinks that his club is playing well and will finish better than last season.

    Leicester target

    “Leicester City can finish in the English Premier League top six this season,” he stated.

    “We narrowly missed out on Europa League ticket last term. Top six? I would say top three [is possible] but we have to get the points out of the games before we can place ourselves at the top.

    “After the draw against Chelsea we knew we could have won that game. It’s a mixed feeling for me because in the first half we were not up to it. We tried to comeback in the second half, with better spirit and we tried to push forward. As I said, it was a mixed feeling because we should have got the three points even after the first half. We competed well and that goes for other matches too thereafter.

    “My goal came at the right time too. We’re not here to compete, we’re here to contend. All of the guys have a good spirit and we know what we want this season. Getting this point, we’re not really happy, we’re kind of sad because we dominated the second half which could have brought a better result for us. Yes! We could have won the match.

    “We’re really pleased. I keep saying, the first half was really bad. I feel bad about it. There are lots of positives for us in the second half. We’ll try to take it to the next game because we know we can actually do it.”

    The Nigerian still remembers French player N’Golo Kanté like yesterday.

    At the time of his signing, Leicester were struggling under the weight of being such unlikely Premier League champions. Kanté, so integral to that remarkable triumph, was long gone. Nampalys Mendy and Daniel Amartey had both tried to replace him but failed.

    In the last Premier League season, Kanté clocked up 130 successful tackles and interceptions combined at Chelsea while Ndidi ended with 153, more than any player in Europe’s top five leagues.

    “I just go out there to do whatever coach tells me and I guess I do it well and that is why I keep coming back. When I came here (Leicester) I told myself that if I played very well then someday I would also be remembered as a great. I want to say that I’m close to that now.”

    He also remembers Leicester marksman James Vardy in a special way. “Vardy is certainly one of the reasons why we are playing well. In the whole of England few strikers are like him. He’s smart and fast. Vardy for me is up there,” Ndidi added.

  • PHOTOS: Victorious Army troops tour Sambisa, other recaptured communities

    In continuation of its onslaught on Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, the Nigerian Army has embarked on a victory tour around recaptured communities.
    The gallant troops were pictured enjoying a smooth sail from Sambisa to Damboa and Alagarno all in Borno State.
    In one of the photos which has gone viral on social, the troops showed ingenuity, displaying tactical engineering to improvise a fording raft.
    The Army were seen moving deep into the swamps of the Borno/Yobe forests to smoke out the remnants of the criminal BHT/ISWAP elements
    This comes after the troops of Sector 3 supported by the Air Task Force (ATF) successfully repelled an attack on Gubio in Gubio LGA of Borno State.
    The gallant troops neutralized two of the criminal insurgents and recovered one Gun Truck, 2 AK 47 Rifles, one Anti Air Craft Gun.
    No fewer than 50 civilians held hostage by the criminals were rescued during the encounter.
    The troops continue to dominate the area with fighting/clearing patrols, ambush, raids as well as cordon and search operations.

  • Ukpo – Abba land dispute: Youths warn Chimamanda over attack on Arthur Eze

    The National Association of Igbo Youths (NAIY) have expressed displeasure over comments made by Chimamanda Adichie, a writer, against Prince Arthur Eze in her recent write-up on the land dispute between Ukpo and Abba communities, both in Anambra State and warned that a leader like Eze should be accorded the respect he deserves.

    Describing Eze as “a leading light of Igbo land”, the group said in a statement signed by Okechukwu Ndubuisi, its  National President; Barrister Orji Emeka, its National Secretary and Nnanyelugo Chuks, its Director of Publicity, that it was “with shock and utter disbelief” that they read Adichie’s recent comments.

    “We take this step because Prince Arthur Eze is an uncommon persona and an enigma of the Igbo race. We therefore cannot stand by and watch someone rubbish all that the Prince has worked for over the years with unblemished global acclaim.

    “Prince Eze should be respected by all and sundry, if not for anything, for his philanthropic disposition in the entire Southeast, in assisting Igbo men and Nigerians in general to start-up businesses and escape the scathing heat of poverty and deprivation. This is a man who has lifted so many Igbo youths from misery and made them useful to the society,” the group said.

    Read Also: Who owns the land?

    On the land dispute, the group said: “Many Igbo people, including those of Abba and Ukpo communities have the historical records of the land dispute which Chimamanda has now dabbled into without corresponding knowledge.

    “But we hasten not to put all those facts into writing in view of the fact that the Supreme Court had ruled on this issue and the judgement has put to rest the controversy and affirmed that Ukpo community is the rightful owner of the disputed land.

    “So for the Abba community, where Chimamanda claims to hail from, to now go to a lower court to file a fresh case to hear the matter again as stated by Chimamanda is to say the least, a case of judicial rascality and abuse of judicial processes. Chimamanda has exposed herself that she is not vast in the jurisprudence of the Nigerian legal system, because every pronouncement by the Supreme Court is not only binding on the parties but is an authority which can be cited in other courts and cases,” NAIY said.

    The novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, had, in an article entitled, ‘My Hometown Under Siege,” accused Prince Arthur Eze of being the mastermind behind attacks on her people over the disputed land. According to her: “Prince Arthur Eze has a documented history of muscling his way into contested land – in the past few years he has used the police to terrorize another nearby town, Abagana, after which he annexed their land. But perhaps the clearest evidence that Prince Arthur Eze is the mastermind of the harassment in the Abba-Ukpo case comes from his own words.”

    It would be recalled that although the Supreme Court, in its judgement, declared Ukpo community as the rightful owner of the land, Abba community reportedly took the matter back to a lower court.

  • Facts you should know about Gov Oyetola at 65

    Osun Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is 65 today. Here are basic facts to know about him:

    Below are facts you should know about Oyetola

    * Oyetola was born in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun on 29 September, 1954 to the family of Hammed Oyetola (the current Chief Imam of Egbeda, Iragbiji)

    * First born of 30 children, he attended Ifeoluwa Grammar School in Osogbo for his secondary school education which he completed in 1972. He proceeded to the University of Lagos where he bagged a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Insurance in 1978. Oyetola capped his education with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in 1990 at the same university.

    Read Also: Buhari congratulates Oyetola on Supreme Court victory

    * He had his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between 1978 and 1979 at Potiskum, in present day Yobe State, where he lectured at the Staff Training Centre.

    * His professional career began in 1980, when he joined Leadway Assurance Company Limited as Area Manager and worked there till 1987. He took another step by taking his expertise to Crusader Insurance Company Limited as Underwriting Manager between 1987 and 1990. He moved again in 1990 to Alliance and General Insurance as Technical Controller and served in that capacity until 1991.

    * He established his firm, Silvertrust Insurance Brokers Limited, in 1991. He was the Managing Director until his appointment as Chief of Staff in 2010.

    * His other stints in business include, Executive Vice-Chairman, Paragon Group of Companies which has interest in Oil and Gas, Mining and Real Estate from 2005 until 2011. He was also Chairman of Ebony Properties Limited.

    * He had been a Director of Pyramid Securities Limited until 2011, among other business interests, before his appointment as Chief of Staff by Governor Aregbesola.

    * Oyetola is a pronounced technocrat as well as a progressive politician. He was a founding member of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Osun State and has been a chieftain of the party through its metamorphosis to Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now All Progressives Congress (APC).

    * He is happily married to Kafayat Olaitan Oyetola and the marriage is blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren.

    * On March 22, 2019 Osun State Tribunal nullified his election and declared Senator Ademola Adeleke winner of the poll. But on May 9, 2019, the Court of Appeal upheld Oyetola’s victory at the poll. Finally on June 5, 2019, the Supreme Court affirmed Oyetola winner of the Osun governorship election.

  • NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rain for Sunday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and rains for Sunday.

    NiMet’s weather outlook on Saturday in Abuja predicted partly cloudy morning over Northern states with chances of thunderstorm over southern Maiduguri during the afternoon/evening hours.

    According to it, day and night temperatures of the region are expected to be 31 to 35 degree Celsius and 21 to 24 degree Celsius.

    “For Central states, cloudy conditions are expected with chances of thunderstorms over Abuja, Niger and Kwara states in the morning hours.

    Read Also: NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains for Friday

    “Later in the day there are chances of thunderstorms over Abuja, Lafia, Yola, Jos and Taraba state in the afternoon/evening period.

    “Day and night temperatures are expected to be 28 to 34 degree Celsius and 17 to 23 degree Celcius.”

    The agency forecast prospect of thunderstorms/rains over the
    southwest inland of Southern states and chances of rains over the coastal axis in the morning hours.

    It envisaged prospects of thunderstorms and rains over most places in the region during the afternoon/evening hours with day and night temperatures of 30 to 32 degree Celsius and 21 to 24 degree Celsius respectively.

  • Zamfara governor shuts down school, suspends staff over desecration of Qur’an

    GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State on Saturday went tough with the authorities Shattima Model Primary School, Gusau, over an allegation of  desecration of the Holy Qur’an in the school.

    He shut down the school and sent the staff on an indefinite suspension.

    A full investigation was immediately ordered into the situation.

    To conduct the probe is the Basic Education Commission, according to Yusuf Idris, the Director-General, Press Affairs to the governor.

    Read Also: Zamfara to probe radio, television stations

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pages of the Holy Qur’an were discovered around 11am on Friday in the sewage of the school.

    The governor who is currently in the United States to woo investors, pledged that the government would fish out the perpetrators.

    He directed the immediate deployment of three additional security guards to all public primary schools in the state capital to beef up security.

    “Government will deal ruthlessly with anyone with a hand in this dastardly act, however highly placed,” he said and urged residents to be more vigilant.

    Matawalle said people should report suspicious movements in their areas to security agencies or Shariah commission officials for prompt intervention.

  • Miyetti Allah and the Ijare, Ondo incident

    AFTER first acknowledging that the death of 36 cows at a site considered sacred by the people of Ijare, in Ondo State was an act of God, Miyetti Allah, the association of cattle breeders, have asked for compensation.

    Said their national president, Abdullahi Bodejo: “Our cows are supposed to be treated as other assets like cars that are insured.

    A Fulani man doesn’t have any company, but the cows are his company and industry; they are his everything – car, shops, etc. Now that the cows are dead, what do you want that Fulani man to do since they were not insured? So, the government, whether the state government or the federal government should pay compensation for those cows killed by thunderstorm.

    Even if a motorcar kills a cow on the road, the government should pay compensation, it is the best thing to do. Even if Fulani man wakes up to see his cow is dead, let the government pay compensation. If you don’t compensate him, maybe some bad company or bad people can invite him and teach him illegal things and he would join them to begin to torment other people.

    Government should pay him; death of 36 cows is not a small loss. It shouldn’t be a heavy thing for government to do; let the government quickly settle the Fulani man.”

    If he agrees that the cows were not insured, in the same way farmers probably do not insure their crops, where on earth does he expect the compensation to come from? From taxpayers, or from the gods to whom the deaths have been attributed?

    Who compensates poultry farmers whose businesses have been wiped off by disease? Mr Bodejo’s reasoning is unhelpful, and it is obviously at the bottom of the illogical self-importance herdsmen have all along attached to themselves and their business.

    Cattle breeding is a business like any other. Cattle owners’ gains and losses cannot be arbitrarily transferred.

  • Obasanjo optimistic of improved relations between Nigeria, South Africa

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo  is looking forward to improved relations between  Nigeria and South Africa soon despite the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.

    He hinged his hope on next month’s planned talks between President Muhammadu Buhari and President  Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

    The former Nigerian leader who visited Ramaphosa in  Pretoria earlier in the week  told reporters in Abeokuta yesterday that he discussed the xenophobic attacks with his host.

    He said: “one of the major things we discussed in this issue of xenophobia or Afrophobia. I took the opportunity of being in South Africa about three or four days ago to actually pay a courtesy call on President Cyril Ramaphosa and he quickly granted me the opportunity.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: ECOWAS citizens seek access to African Court

    “One good thing that the president said to me is that there is so much at stake and whatever mistake we have made, we have to correct it. And I think that was a very good statement and I know that he meant it because, he immediately said look, what can we do or should we do?

    “I think that is all we must be doing and be saying and I said my joy is that President Cyril Ramaphosa is ready to do what needs to be done to stop these incidents and to put the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa on the right track.

    “One of the things they are going to do between South Africa and Nigeria is, they are going to have what we established in my term that we called Bi-lateral commission.

    “During my time, it was at the second echelon level of vice-presidents, deputy presidents, but, now they have raised it to the president’s level and I understand that our own president would be there within the first week of October”.

    Obasanjo said that his own investigation showed that contrary to allegations in some quarters, many Nigerians living in South Africa are not drug peddlers or criminals but businessmen and professionals who have helped in contributing to the economic development of South Africa.

  • Ekiti APC suspends local government primary elections indefinitely

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ekiti State Chapter on Saturday said it has postponed the local government primary elections in two local government areas of the state.

    The ruling party’s shadow primary which was scheduled to hold yesterday  was suspended indefinitely in Ado and Ikole Local Government over security concern while the elections held in other 14 local councils.

    The party spokesperson, Ade Ajayi, who stated this in Ado Ekiti in a telephone chat with newsmen, said the decision was reached by the party’s high decision making organ following emergence of a security report that some hooligans were plotting to tinker with the political atmosphere and disrupt the exercise.

    Ajayi said that a new date would be communicated to all concerned stakeholders as soon as report shows that the coast is clear.

    Read Also: Police intercept van fully loaded with Indian Hemp in Ekiti

    “The reason for the postponement in respect of the two local governments is due to security concerns. We had it on record that there would be breakdown of law and order. And it was on this basis we decided to postpone the election in the two local governments until further notice.

    The remaining 14 Council election will hold today as scheduled”, he said.

    The indefinite postponement has created fear and re-awakened the suspicion of some aspirants who alleged the party leadership of plotting to impose its anointed candidates on the people.

    Two of the aspirants who spoke to newsmen at the venue of the primary, Alhaji Tajudeen Gidado, and Tosin Aluko, expressed displeasure over the suspension of the party’s shadow election.

    They accused the leadership of the party of being undemocratic, warning that they would resist any attempt to impose on the party. In her reaction, Mrs. Aluko, an aspirant in the election lamented that the leadership of the party were determined to impose a candidate. But the party spokesman described the allegations as a conjectural statement that lack content of validity in all its measure.