The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerians

  • Monarch advises Nigerians on patriotism

    The Asiwaju of Ipokia Kingdom, Otunba (Chief) Babajide Titus, has urged Nigerian leaders to remain focused and let the love of the country be uppermost in their minds.

    He said the greatest hope of the country is to be on same pedestrial with advanced countries such as United States, Britain, London etc, and can be achieved through shunning and avoiding politics of crisis, bloodshed and assassination.

    Otunba, made the appeal while celebrating his birthday at his country home, Ajegunle, Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government Area, Ogun State.

    Important dignitaries from far and near both within and outside the country stormed his residence in exotic cars in Otunba Titus Babajide (JP) Street, Idiroko, to rejoice with him and his household for the event.

    Speaking with The Nation, he said “All glory and adoration returns to the Lord, for added another year to my life and for keeping me and family alive in sound health.

    He gave thanks to the God, and however, pledged his loyalty to Him for the rest of his life.

    Babajide, appealed to Nigerian leaders to shun do-or-die politics, noting is practical demonstration of love that can lift the country

    “Nigerians should learn how to support whoever becomes winner of any election and contribute our quotas to build an enduring nation,” he said.

    He urged youths to avoid being used by politicians as a ladder to grab powers during the coming elections.

    He urged them to say no to lawlessness, thugerry and all forms of violence in 2015 election.”

    As a member of Special Marshal in Ogun State, he advised motorists to always check their vehicles before embarking on a journey to avoid preventable accidents on the road.

    He thanked Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for constructing and rehabilitating roads in the state, he is working for everyone to enjoy dividend of democracy.

    He urged drivers to maintain discipline while on the wheels and ensure safety of every road user.

    The Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr Godwin Ogagaoghene, thank the Otunba for his support for FRSC.

    Present at the event were: Idiroko Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr David Irunoje, the Zonal Public Education Officer, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Unit Public Education Officer/Protocol, Mr Niyi Niniola, Director, Ogun State National Tax Force, Alhaji Fatai Isiaka and many political stalwarts.

  • New PRA 2014 is game changer for Nigerians, says Adedeji

    New PRA 2014 is game changer for Nigerians, says Adedeji

    The new Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 is a game changer that has come to save Nigerians from the problem of inability to save by using part of their savings as equity towards getting mortgage facilities, Managing Director, Leadway Pensure PFA, Mrs. Ronke Adedeji, has said.

    Adedeji, a member of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), stated this while speaking with reporters in Lagos on the benefit of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) under the new law at a media retreat organised by PenOp in Lagos.

    Highlighting other notable changes in the PRA 2014, she said  employers can no longer hide behind the fact that some workers are casual or contract staff.

    She noted that the new law states that any worker under any form of employment is entitled to a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) because whichever account an employer uses to pay salary is portable.

    She stated that casual or contract workers who decide to spend their working career under contract from one employer to the other are entitled to have RSA account that employers can remit pension contributions into.

    She noted that Group Life Insurance remains mandatory but employers who don’t provide life insurance for their employees will no longer get away free. She said: “The new development is that the law now specifies that if an employer does not provide life insurance, he is liable to pay the deceased beneficiary the entitlement or be sued. So peradventure, an employer decides to save money rather than obey the law and pay life insurance premium, the beneficiary has a right to sue the deceased employer.

    “Proceeds of life insurance can now be directly paid to the deceased beneficiary. Before now, the life insurance company has to pay proceeds of life insurance to Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) who will credit their RSA account and the burden was on us to track the beneficiary. This was a source of challenge for us. Very often, because the deceased did not update his or her information after registration, it is difficult for us to find the beneficiary. But the new law now places that burden on the insurance company like it was before the 2004 PRA. So when someone passes on, it is the responsibility of the insurer to look for the beneficiary and pay the life insurance proceeds.”

    Adedeji also said the previous law only mentioned participation by public service of the federation and private sector and left out state and local government adding that the state and local government felt they were at liberty not to comply.

    “The new law has clearly included the state and local government. The law has also expanded coverage from minimum of three employees to five employees. Another interesting thing is that anyone who is not in any of these three categories can still have a RSA through voluntary contribution. Other notable change is clear mention that contributions, income and benefit payments are tax free.”

    She described the provision of mortgage as a game changer for every Nigerian noting that people have been clamouring for accessibility to their pension savings before old age.

    Contributors usually lament lack of access to their RSA account when they have needs. With the new law, an individual can use part of his balance in his or her account as an equity contribution towards getting a mortgage facility. We as the PFAs are only waiting for the guideline by the National pension Commission (PenCom) to implement this aspect of the law, she added.

  • Nigerians advised on nation-building

    Nigerians advised on nation-building

    Nigerians have been urged to exhibit good character that could help in building a virile nation. They have also been enjoined to imbibe the virtue of righteousness that can withstand temptations and positively impact on the behaviours of individuals in leadership positions.

    These were the pieces of advice from the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to the Wise Men Conference of the Christian Pentecostal Mission International in Ajao Estate, Lagos. It was delivered by the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Dr Sarah Jubril.

    The First Lady said as individuals with no other country than Nigeria, it is important that Nigerians should come together and build a virile nation that will be the pride of all. This, she said, will be achievable through good character and discipline.

    “Parents must live exemplary lives and bequeath enviable legacies to their children. They must affect their work places in a way that will build the nation, even as they must evolve a dress code that commands respect from their children particularly, the girls.

    “Also, they must cultivate a culture of righteousness and decency that can withstand corruption, nepotism and ethnicity and place collective interest above personal and parochial ones,” she said.

    Earlier in his message to the conference, the General Overseer of the church, Dr Obiora Ezekiel, said Nigeria would outlive every politician; so it is necessary for them to live the kind of life that would encourage and build others.

    In line with the theme of the conference which was “Understanding the Times”, Dr Ezekiel said as the country grapples with some challenges such as insecurity, youth unemployment and kidnapping, politicians and individuals should come up with workable solutions to these myriad of problems instead of scathing criticisms.

    “We must always think of how to get out of our problems instead of engaging in open criticisms that will make us sink deeper. God has been wise to place us in this mightily-endowed country. We must not destroy ourselves, rather we must encourage our leaders always to do the needful,” he said.

    He advised participants at the conference to discuss salient issues that will sustain faith in times like this, saying “we beseech each and every conferee to remain steadfast and focused, eschewing all forms of distraction throughout   this conference.”

    The conference, which is an annual event of the church, aimed at re-awakening, strengthening and repositioning Nigerians to be able to withstand and surmount challenges facing the end-time church.

    Highlights of the programme included award of prizes to representatives of the church from different states of the federation.

  • ‘Only Nigerians can tackle Boko Haram’

    International support against terrorist sect Boko Haram notwithstanding, the Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Ota, Ogun State, Dr Taiwo Akinola, has declared that only Nigerians can tackle the insurgents.

    He spoke last week ahead of the annual convention of the church, which begins today.

    The convention ends next Sunday.

    The ministers expected at the convention include: Bishop Olanrewaju Obembe, Bishop Mike Bamidele, Bishop Victor Akilla, Dr. Kunle Adesina, Apostle Tomomewo  and others.

    Akinola said Boko Haram is backed by a malevolent spirit that Nigerians can conquer through prayers.

    He also stated that the negotiations with the terrorists will not work, urging the federal government to deal decisively with them.

    He said: “The federal government must also be very stern in dealing with the group; terrorism in any form is criminal and not justifiable. The carrot method is obviously not working as we just witnessed with the ceasefire that backfires.”

    On the 2015 general elections, Akinola advised Nigerians to be determined to make them free and fair.

    He urged political parties to be sensitive to the needs of people in presenting candidates while urging Nigerians to vote for only credible candidates.

  • Nigerians transfer N80b daily, says Dozie

    Nigerians transfer N80b daily, says Dozie

    Over N80 billion is electronically transferred daily from one bank account to the other in Nigeria, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, has said.

    Speaking on ‘Media Trends in Business and Big Data Management’ at the Society and Technology Conference and Exhibition 2014, in Lagos yesterday, Dozie said, in compliance with global financial trends and the Cash-Less policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is aimed at driving financial inclusion and reduce cash-based transactions in the economy, electronic payment has created a new order in financial transactions, allowing Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) the opportunity to create financial products and services that are customer-centric.

    He explained e-money is virtually stored monetary value in wallets or accounts, noting that the platform allows the account holder to access the value of the money with ease, exchange and transfer electronically for business transactions and sundry payments.

    He said: “The financial industry has moved through various stages, at the moment value is being stored virtually. Customers have come to the realisation of the ease associated with e-money.”

    He said Diamond Bank has risen to the challenge of the new order of electronic banking through the development of unique products, like BETA, a product which incorporates the traditional method of savings in an account with low minimum account balance, low fees, that bear interest and customers have access to their funds through multiple channels, and Diamond Y’ello Account, a product that enables MTN subscribers to open and operate from their phones.

  • Nigerians, others spend £4million on choice UK property every week

    Nigerians, others spend £4million on choice UK property every week

    What has Ebola and Boko Haram got to do with wealthy Nigerians acquiring property in London? A  report says Boko Haram and Ebola have seen an increase in Nigerians investing in the United Kingdom property market  

    A report in yesterday’s London Mail has detailed how African, especially Nigerian, buyers are spending almost £4million on London property every week. The report said they were snapping up exclusive investments in the United Kingdom.

    “Super-rich oligarchs are taking their vast resources and investing them in the safe haven of London property – with more than £600million spent in the capital in the past three years. A mixture of traditional reasons combined with increased terrorism and the outbreak of Ebola is said to be behind the dramatic influx of African money to the capital.

    “While African buyers only account for 1.5 per of transactions in the ‘ultra prime’ London market, they make up five per cent of sales by value – up from two per cent. This is by typically spending between £15million and £25million on each home,” said the report.

    The report said the interest of Nigerians and other wealthy Africans in London property has gone up since the Ebola outbreak and continued terrorism from as Boko Haram and others.

    Beauchamp Estates, which sells some of London’s most expensive homes, yesterday released a report on African buyers in the capital.

    Nigeria leads five other countries, Ghana, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Senegal, on the list of big time players in the UK property market.

    The report reads: “Nigerians are the biggest spenders, with wealthy nationals forking out £250million on London homes in the last three years.

    “The new wave of super-rich includes Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian business magnate who, with a £16billion fortune, is Africa’s wealthiest man.

    “Folorunsho Alakija, a billionaire oil tycoon, fashion designer and philanthropist from Lagos, is also a big investor in the London property market. She recently bought four apartments in One Hyde Park, the super-exclusive development in Knightsbridge.

    “Her British-born nephew Rotimi Alakija, who also goes by the stage name of DJ Xclusive, has also invested property in the capital.

    “It is thought other tycoons have also been eyeing up homes on Kensington Palace Gardens – known as Billionaires’ Row.”

    Managing Director, Beauchamp Estates, Gary Hersham, said he has had three super-rich Nigerians enquiring about homes in the past week alone.

    He said: “ I’ve had an upturn in African buyers over the last few months. The situation in West Africa at present is pushing rich African buyers back into Central London at a significantly higher level than is normally experienced.

    “While war, disease and terrorism in West Africa grab media headlines, actually for super-rich Africans its domestic wealth, cultural ties to London, general safety and education for their children that are the key attractions for buying a home in central London.”

    Hersham said these super-rich look to buy property in the ‘platinum triangle’ — Mayfair, Belgravia and Knightsbridge.

    The report added: “Around 80 per cent spend between £15million to £25million on a residential property, with ten per cent spending more than £30million. If they are not buying, they are renting luxury homes for up to £15,000-per-week and staying for between six weeks and three months per year.

    “London’s reputation for having a residential property market, which is secure and a stable investment, is one of the main reasons wealthy Africans are buying, according to Beauchamp Estates. Another reason is historic cultural and community ties.

    “Nigeria is a Commonwealth country and there is a community of 70,000 in London. There are a similar number of Ghanaians in the capital. The third reason is education, with King’s School Canterbury, Wycombe Abbey, Cheltenham Ladies College, Eton, Harrow and Bradfield are among the favourite private schools for wealthy families from Africa.

    “According to the Nigerian embassy, Nigerian nationals spend more than £300million-a-year on tutoring, accommodation, fees and equipment at British schools and universities.”

    Hersham added: “ It is going to be the African century. Continental African buyers or luxury tenants in London are currently where the Russians and Ukrainians were five years ago. At present virtually all the transactions are for end use, not rental investment, which indicates that the African buyer market in London has significant room for growth and maturity. Nigerians have been long standing property purchasers in the central London market, going back to the early 1980s.

    “However, in the 1980s and 1990s they typically purchased houses in North London, in Hampstead, St Johns Wood and Primrose Hill.

    “Now, enhanced wealth has enabled them to move into the ultra prime market in Mayfair, Belgravia and Knightsbridge, and have been joined by affluent purchasers from other West African and French equatorial states.”

  • Nigerians hail NHIS healthcare plans

    Nigerians hail NHIS healthcare plans

    The National Health Insurance Scheme campaign on its new programmes came to Lagos few days ago.

    It moved on to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and to the Southeast, including Asaba, Onitsha and Enugu.

    Residents of the cities hailed the government for the scheme.

    The campaign, which featured a road show and market storm in Lagos, rocked major parts of the city, from Ikeja to a village square meeting at Tabon-Tabon community in Agege Local Government Area.

    Community leaders at Tabon-Tabon were educated on how to register and benefit from NHIS programmes.

    NHIS Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs. Evelyn Olokun, who was represented by Senior Manager, Chika Amahalu, educated the audience on several platforms available to the people to enjoy the numerous NHIS programmes, including those offering direct benefits to people in the communities.

    She said: “The community-based programme is the one that will serve the community people the more. The good thing about this is that the community residents choose the hospital to use and manages their contributions by themselves through a seven-man Board of Trustees (BoT) that will be formed to oversee the programme for the community. And because the money is collectively paid, it runs into a “pool” of funds that will enhance the capacity of the community to take advantage of the NHIS Community-Based Social Insurance Programme.”

    On the possibility that the pool of fund may not be large enough to cover the healthcare needs of the community, Mrs Amahalu explained that all enrolees are not likely to get ill at the same time.

    She said this means the funds would be available every time to take care of those who require treatment.

    The programme, the coordinator said, also covers expectant mothers and children under five to access it free for three years, beginning from the commencement of the programme in their communities.

     

     

  • ’Over 1.6m Nigerians are displaced’

    Worried by the activities of insurgents in the North-eastern part of the country which have resulted in the displacement of over 1.5 million Nigerians, a group, Social Welfare Network Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has suggested that government should introduce air bombardment to dislodge the insurgents.

    This was revealed in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the NGO, Emmanuel Osemeka.

    Osemeka also disclosed that internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps don’t have the capacity to cater for the needs of displaced persons.

    Lamenting the living condition of IDPs, the group said displaced persons lack water, clothing, light, hospital and education.

    Osemeka said: “Our organisation has just concluded an assessment tour of internally displaced persons’ camps and internally displaced persons’ settlements in the states and we can say conservatively that we have over 1.6 million internally displaced persons scattered across four states.

    “We have about 40,000 in Adamawa and Borno. As a whole, we have an estimated 670,000 and 75 per cent of them are women and children. In Yobe State, it is about 80,000. We don’t have the exact figure yet but you know government figures are reduced.

    “In Gombe State where majority of the people who live within the fringes of the states have relocated to, especially in Akko Local Government Area, the figure is over 120,000 which makes the figure more than a million.

    The coordinator, who described the condition of the IDPs as pathetic said: “The truth is that people are angry and they feel they are not part of this society. That is why they can try to fight the society and create their own enclave.

    He, however, called on relevant authorities to provide relief materials for them. “It is time we mobilised relief materials for these people and show them love before another charlatan will come and tell them that they are hated. So, it is time we began to help them and show some level of kindness to them so that whatever it is that is going on in their head will be corrected.

    “Our indecision is inadvertently recreating another monster. It is time everybody got out of their comfort zone to help the people. We have neglected them enough. We have to look for solution. I recommend that citizen intervention begins now,” he said.

    On how to end insurgency, he said the military should use air bombardment.

    “There should have been consistent air bombardment before now. Even if it lasted for one week, the insurgents would have been dislodged so that people can go back to their homes.

    “We have the issue of human rights and also the issue of protecting the territorial integrity and of course ensuring that we don’t have colossal damage. But the truth is that we will surely have colossal damage because we cannot identify the members of insurgency group except for the ones that are carrying guns and facing our military which are of insignificant number.

    “So, the military has no choice than to deploy every arsenal to end the activities of the insurgents. We cannot continue like this. We are only postponing the evil day. We have more innocent people dying and more that will die. So, it is better for us to take care of the situation now.”

  • Kwankwaso is a progressive gov — Nigerians in UK

    Kano State governor, Dr RabiuKwankwanso, has been described as a progressive governor that can deliver the nation from the predicament it is currently facing.

    Speaking during a reception organised for the governor, by a group of Nigerian professionals in the United Kingdom, Kwankwansiyah Ambassadors of Nigeria (KAN), Diaspora, the Coordinator General of KAN Diaspora, Dr Ibrahim Emokparie, highlighted the challenges facing the Nigerian nation and concluded that Nigeria would fare better under Kwankwanso.

    The event which was massively attended by representatives of the Movement for Visionary Elites, Progressives Solidarity Forum, All Progressives Congress, (UK Chapter), Media, Civil Society Organizations, local authorities and various groups representing the Nigerian community in the UK described Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso as the man who ticks all the boxes of a credible and visionary leader with the acumen and the capability to move Nigeria forward from its present position.

    In his welcome address, the Coordinator highlighted the challenges facing the Nigerian nation ranging from insecurity, corruption, executive lawlessness, impunity and a total lack of direction for the growth and development of the country. He lamented the unprecedented weaknesses with which the current PDP administration reacts to these major challenges. He spoke on the impact of Engineer Kwankwanso’s policy on education, poverty alleviation, infrastructural development and transparency and identified him as the most progressive Governor that can deliver the Nigerian nation. He therefore strongly called for a total support to ensure Kwankwanso’s emergence as the presidential flag bearer of APC.

    The event was graced by prominent Nigerians like Alh. AminuAdamu, Deputy Chairman APC UK, Elder DuroLawal, Chief Charles Ebun-Amu, Charles Lawson, Chief Akinsanmi and the moderator of the event Mr KazeemOlasupo and many others.

    In his address, Adamu attested to the transparency of Governor Kwankwanso’s administration in Kano state and emphasized that his laudable achievements are unparalleled. While stressing the governor’s transparent style of administration by upholding probity and accountability throughout the state civil service, he encouraged everyone to support Kwankwanso as the APC presidential candidate.

    In his remarks, the Event Moderator, Mr KazeemOlasupo said that Nigerians have made errors in the past in choosing wrong leaders and that we must not allow the opportunity to elect a credible president to elude us in the 2015 election.

    Mr Charles Lawson said he came from the same region with President Jonathan but noted that Nigeria needed a leader who will salvage it from its present state of hopelessness. “So, I am ready to mobilise the Niger Delta Youths for this man,” he added.

    Also speaking, Elder DuroLawal maintained that the occurrence at the event and the video shown has gone far to convince him that Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso was the right man for the job. We must do everything possible to ensure his emergence not only as the Presidential flag bearer of the APC but as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2015,” he stated. He ended his speech by re-echoing the much touted lingo at the event that “Nigeria does not need a boy but a man to do the job of salvaging the country.”

     

  • 90 million Nigerians have no access to good food’

    NINETY million Nigerians  have no access to nutritional meals, a non-governmental organisation,  Food Bank Nigeria’s survey has shown. The orgnisation said many Nigerians  live on less than a meal a day.

    Chairman,Foodbank and Senior Pastor of Trinity House Church, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo said despite that Nigeria has one of the best agricultural landscapes and vegetation, the  food production system  is not  producing  enough  nutritious  food.

    Addressing  a press conference to mark the World Food Day  in Lagos, Ighodalo said  the event  has  provided another opportunity to address the problems of food unsustainability.

    In 2012, he  said the  group  distributed  15, 810kg of foods ; 14,284kg in 2013 and 12,339kg last year.

    The decline, last  year, he  explained  was  due to the non involvement of  some companies that partner with it to feed the hungry.

    Foodbank, he  said preserves food and distribute to those who do not have,adding  that the Nigerian chapter  is an extension of the global Food Banking Network based in the United  States.

    To  support the  organisation, Ighodalo called on food dealers, eateries, supermarkets and hotels can give their wasted food to feed the hungry.

    While calling on companies and individuals to assist them in building partnership for a hunger-free nation, the  clergy reiterated the  commitment  of the  organisation to  support  the  government to ensure that Nigeria becomes a self-food sustaining  in the next five years.

    He  also appealed to households to feed the hungry ones around them  in line with  the global goal to  eradicate malnutrition and hunger in the country by next year. “The haves should give the have-nots. Seemingly wasted foods can be recycled. It is not fair for us to live in a land of plenty and yet there is still lack,” Ighodalo said.