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Tag: Port Harcourt

  • FIRS shuts tax defaulting firms in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt

    FIRS shuts tax defaulting firms in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt

    A multi-billion naira company, African Textile Management Limited was among four companies that were sealed up by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) in Kano for non-payment of tax liabilities totaling N130.5 million during an enforcement exercise.

    Other companies affected include Dumma Company Limited, situated at NNPC Depot, Taura Road, Hotoro Quarters, which owes N24.4 million in Company Income Tax; Dennis Auto Supply Company Limited with a tax debt of N62.6 million and A.Y and B Nigeria Limited, a construction firm in Abuja with its branch office in Kano. The company is indebted to the tune of N29.9 million.

    On Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the FIRS enforcement team sealed the premises of Halden Nigerian Limited, located in Trans-Amadi Layout; Steve Integrated Technical Services Limited, Oil Field Services, Engineering and Equipment Leasing and Stemco Limited at Woji Road, GRA. The companies have tax debt profiles of N197.6million, N297.4million and N131.7 million respectively. Leader of the FIRS team, Mrs. Anita Erinne, told officials of the three companies that their tax obligations must be met before their premises would be reopened.

    Also on Tuesday, an FIRS team, led by Mrs. Ruth Mandeun, sealed-off Interior Specifics, located at Plot 697, Amodu Tijani Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, over a tax debt of N17.125 million. Equally sealed were MP Engineering Contractors and Swiss Trade Limited, which owe N79.324 million and N11.099 million respectively.

    On Monday, the service sealed Crown Realities, located at 3A, Lalupon Close in Ikoyi a tax debt of N86.3 million. The team also sealed-off Mega Equities Limited at 4A, Force Road, Onikan, Lagos. The FIRS said the company owes N144.9, a figure disputed by a member of staff of the company. Also in Lagos, the FIRS sealed Medplus Ph.

  • Nigeria wins 46 medals at ongoing Africa Wrestling Championships

    Nigeria wins 46 medals at ongoing Africa Wrestling Championships

    Team Nigeria has won 46 medals at the ongoing Africa Wrestling Championships holding at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civil Centre, Port Harcourt.

    According to our reporter, the medals comprise 16 gold, 14 silver and 16 bronze.

    As at the time of this report many events are still ongoing and Nigeria’s medals chances are still high.

    The championships will end Feb. 11.

    Daniel Igali, the president, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) said that the country’s representatives had been impressive.

    Igali said that he was particularly impressed by the skills exhibited by the Cadet Team.

    “Over the years, we didn’t have a cadet team and I’m glad we have now and they are pulling their weights.

    “We are not there yet but it’s a gradual process and we are on the right path to get it right eventually.

    “When I started wrestling then, there was nothing like cadet team. I started wrestling at age 16 and it was straight to the senior team.

    “This is a good development because it provides an avenue to catch them young and groom them well to fully maximize their potential.”

    Sunmisola Balogun is the only Nigerian athlete who has so far qualified for the Youth Olympic Games from the championship

    No fewer than 90 wrestlers which comprising both males and females are representing Nigeria at the competition.

    Some of the countries participating in the championship are:  Nigeria the host, Liberia, Egypt, Guinea Bissau,Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Namibia, Kenya, Burundi, Cameron, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Madagascar, and Senegal

  • Team Nigeria wins 21 medals, leading Africa Wrestling Championship

    Team Nigeria wins 21 medals, leading Africa Wrestling Championship

    Team Nigeria has won a total of 21 medals, leading the medal table at the ongoing Africa Wrestling Championship holding at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.

    The medals comprise nine gold, five silver and seven bronze.

    In the women category, the team won 10 medal- six gold, two silver and two bronze- while men have 11 medals of three gold, three silver and five bronze.

    The medals were won in the concluded events of cadet Freestyle, cadet Greco-Roman and cadet women’s Wrestling.

    Read Also: Nigeria leads with 15 medals at African Wrestling Championship

    A 16-year-old Stephen Akintewe of Akure High School, Akure, Ondo State, won a gold medal in the 60kg cadet attributing his victory to hard work.

    Akintewe  said that he gave his all to training and took each bout cautiously following his coach’s instructions.

    “While preparing for this tournament, I took all corrections seriously and did all that the coach asked me to do.

    “This victory is as a result of hard work and taking each fight as they come.

    “This is my first appearance at the Africa Championships and I’m very happy to win the gold medal, ” he said.

    The gold medalist added that the feat would spur him to get better in the game so as to further represent the country at future tournaments.

    “I believe if I can improve more on myself there’s still a lot I can do for my dear country. I will go back to intensive more efforts into my training,” Akinteye said.

    The competition which commenced on Feb. 7 will end Feb. 11.

    No fewer than 90 wrestlers are representing Nigeria at the championship.

    The participating countries are Nigeria, Liberia, Egypt, Morocco, Guinea-Bissau, Tunisia, Algeria, Namibia, Kenya, Burundi, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Central Africa Republic and Madagascar.

    NAN

  • World Cancer Day: Group conducts free screening Rivers market

    World Cancer Day: Group conducts free screening Rivers market

    Traders in Creek Road market, in Borokiri axis of  Port Harcourt city local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday benefitted from a one day free breast cancer screening, organised by two non-governmental organisations,  Care and Development Centre (CADEC), and Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO), in conjunction with Medical Women Association of Nigeria.

    The programme which witnessed the screening of about 200 women and men was in commemoration of 2018 World Cancer Day celebration, held, February 4,

    Speaking to newsmen at the venue of the exercise the Executive Director of CADEC; Mrs Omorodion Rhoda Omoile, said the event was meant to sensitise and educate the general public on the reality of cancer disease and the need to adopt recommended preventive measures, such as uptake of regular screening, vaccination and healthy eating habits.

    Omorodion encouraged the traders on the need to pay attention to their bodies with the view of the cognizing any change in their body system, and also take immediate steps towards verifying them  in the hospital.

    She lamented the difficult economic burden of cancer on victims, as well as the lack of available screening centers for the citizens, noting that the few  centers available are  owned by private individuals, which makes the cost of accessing them too expensive for the public.

    She appealed to well-meaning individuals who wish to assist any cancer victims with the bills to contact their organization, regretting that the number of indigent persons coming down with the disease is growing rapidly.

    Speaking on the invention of the cancer day, Omorodion said, “World Cancer Day was established by the Paris Charter adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris on 4 February 2000. This Charter aimed at the promotion of the research for curing as well as preventing the disease, upgrading the provided services to the patients.

    “In its article 10, the Charter established that 4 February would therefore be World Cancer Day, so that the Charter of Paris would remain in the hearts and minds of people around the world.”

    Read Also: Re-positioning of Rivers health sector is on course – Wike

    She informed the women traders on some symptoms of cervical cancer, which includes; bleeding offensive smelling from the vaginal region, unexplainable pains during sexual intercourse,  onset of menstrual flow during menopause, Etc.

    She equally advised them to look out for such symptoms as; reddish or pinkish nipples, purse from the nipple(s), nipple retractions, discharge of blood from the nipples.

    To the men, she advised them to look out for such symptoms as, strains of blood in their urine, swollen around the reproductive organ, purse in their urine, as this may be symptoms of prostate cancer

    However, some of the women who were given opportunity to undergo free breast examination in the exercise thanked the group for the gesture.

     

  • Nigeria leads with 15 medals at African Wrestling Championship 

    Nigeria leads with 15 medals at African Wrestling Championship 

    Nigeria has won a total of 15 medals (six gold, three silver and six bronze) in the Cadet Category event to lead the medals table in the opening day of the 2018 African Wrestling Championship holding at the  Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt.
    The gold medalists are Sunmisola Idowu Balogun (65kg), Tolu Ogunsanya (46kg), Yetunde Oluwatoyin (40kg), Cecilia James (68kg) and Mercy Adekuoroye (53kg) in the Women’s Wrestling, while the only gold medal in Greco Roman was won by Ukoro Peter (55kg).
    SportingLife reports that Nigeria have qualified in three Olympic weight classes (40kg, 53kg and 68kg) of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina later this year.
    In the Women’s wrestling 53kg, Mercy Adekuoroye, a niece to World Wrestling silver medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, defeated Soud Bouksir of Algeria 10-0 to secure the gold medal.
    In the 65kg, Sunmisola Balogun defeated Natasha Nabaina of Cameroon 5-4 in a tight final. She defeated Chaimae Taibi of Morocco 10-0  in the semi final after overpowering Natasha Nabaina 2-0 in the first round and South Africa’s Charmone Oosthuizen 11-0 in Round 2.
    Tolulope Ogunsanya won her gold by defeating Lamia Rtibi of Tunisia 10-0 in the 46kg weight class.
    Natasha Essien gave the country the only silver medal in the Women’s Wretling 73kg weight class, while Esther Kolawole (61kg), Esther Asaolu (43kg) and Aina Ohida (49kg) won bronze medals in the category.

    Read Also: Nigeria wins 2nd Africa Zone 2 Junior Swimming Championship

    In the Greco Roman, Ukoro Peter delivered gold for Nigeria by beating Omar Abdelaziz 4-0 in the final of the 55kg class. He defeated Lu Shawn Leonico of South Africa in the semi final. He defeated Linus Katujanda of Namibia 15-7 in Round One before beating Yassine Jaa of Morocco 8-0 in Round 2.
    Perediegha Ogidi won silver in the Greco Roman 48kg. He defeated Mervin Eixab of Namibia 9-3 in Round One but lost 6-4 to Mohamed Dridi in the second match.
    Ntem Moses Ifiok also won a silver medal in the GR 65kg class.
    In the GR 51kg, Damilola Gabriel Fayolemi defeated Yassine Chekly of Morocco in the bronze medal match. The other two bronze medals in Greco Roman were won by Yahaya Yahuza (92kg) and Ikechukwa Robinson (60kg).
    Egypt are second on the table with four gold, three silver and six bronze medals, while Tunisia are third with four gold, two silver and a bronze medal.
    Algeria are in the fourth position on the table with three gold, two silver and two bronze medals and are followed by Cameroon with two silver medals.
    South Africa are in the sixth position with one silver and four bronze medals, while Namibia won just one bronze medal to place seventh on the table after the Day One event of the championship.
  • NiMet predicts sunny, hazy conditions on Wednesday

    NiMet predicts sunny, hazy conditions on Wednesday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunny and hazy weather conditions over the central States of the country on Wednesday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Tuesday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 32 to 40 and 15 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.

    The agency predicted that the southern States would experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions in the morning with day and night temperatures in the range of 35 to 39 and 22 to 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It also predicted localised thunderstorms over Lagos, Ijebu, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Eket, Oshogbo, Ibadan, Akure, Benin and environs during the afternoon and evening period.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience sunny and hazy conditions throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures in the range of 32 to 40 and 14 to 19 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “It will be dry over the North, while increased cloudiness with chances of rainfall activities are expected over the south within the next 24 hours,” NiMet predicted.

    NAN

     

  • NURTW leader calls for closure of illegal motor parks in P/Harcourt

    NURTW leader calls for closure of illegal motor parks in P/Harcourt

    Mr Stephen Orlu, the Chairman, Abali Park, a chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in Rivers, has called for the closure of illegal motor parks in Port Harcourt.

    Orlu told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday that the indiscriminate establishment of motor parks at different locations in the city was uncivilised.

    He urged the state Ministry of Transport to shut down all motor parks that were operating without the approval of the State Government.

    According to him, the development is compounding the already terrible traffic situation in Port Harcourt.

    “Motor parks are supposed to be strategically positioned in places where they will not affect traffic flow negatively.

    “Clearly, there are areas of the city that are not suitable for motor park operations but this is being violated to the detriment of the public,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Lekki Toll: No increase in transport fare says  NURTW

    The NURTW leader said that there were more than 40 motor parks operating illegally within the Port Harcourt metropolis.

    Orlu said that the situation had also created a situation where motor parks had turned a base for criminals.

    “This is not right, steps need to be taken to ensure that the right things are done in the interest of the state and its people,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • 560 returnees from Libya arrive Port Harcourt

    560 returnees from Libya arrive Port Harcourt

    The third batch of 560 returnees from Libya has arrived Port Harcourt, Mr. Martins Ejike, Southsouth zonal coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    He said the returnees, comprising 540 adults and 20 infants, arrived on board Max Air, registered as 5N-HMM, about 11:52 pm.

    Ejike condemned the poor response of states in evacuating returnees from the reception centre.

    He said the Federal Government gave the states 48 hours to enable them evacuate their returnees.

    The zonal coordinator lamented that states failed to abide by the directives, noting that Southwest states were not responding to the evacuation.

    He said the choice of Port Harcourt airport as evacuation route was based on proximity to the most affected states.

    “…Edo State alone recorded 309 of 484 migrants. The record also showed over 80 per cent of the returnees were indigenes of Edo and Delta states.

    “It is more convenient for the largely affected states to evacuate their returnees from Port Harcourt,” Ejike said.

    Spokesman for Max Air Mr. Muhammad Dahiru said the airline was competent to carry 1,680 returnees, if passengers were cleared on time.

    He said the airline deployed three aircraft with 560 capacity each for the operation, adding that speedy operation could be actualised, if passengers’ documentation and clearance were not delayed.

    One of the returnees, Mr. Paul Eke, thanked the Federal Government for ensuring smooth return of migrants, saying the measure showed government’s commitment to its citizens.

    He urged the government to continue its rescue process to the hinterland in Libyan states where Nigerians are being imprisoned and tortured.

    “I enjoin the Federal Government to rescue Nigerians trapped in interior parts of Libya.

    “I stayed in Zawe Superata. This place is like an exit point to Italy and many Nigerians are being imprisoned there,” Eke alleged.

  • ‘The world needs productive minds at this time’

    ‘The world needs productive minds at this time’

    Dayo Ibitoye is the founder of Dinovate Consulting, an integrated media and Development Communication Company based in Port Harcourt, South-south Nigeria.  He is also a curator of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers’ Community, Port Harcourt Hub. A two-time winner of the technology category of the Nigeria Blog Awards, he speaks with HANNAH OJO on his work in the development sector. 

    Kindly walk us through your educational and career background

    I am a graduate of Chemical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. While in the university, I worked as a campus correspondent for some national newspapers. This experience kick-started a career for me in the media and development sector. Because of my passion for technology, I started a technology blog in 2009. The blog grew to become one of the most successful technology blogs in Nigeria. The blog won the Nigerian Blog awards twice (2012 and 2013) and was nominated for Nigerian Blog of the Year alongside Linda Ikeji. I have also won the Coca-Cola Campuslife prize in journalism (profile report category). I have worked with the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), a $90 million Corporate Social Enterprise of Chevron Corporation where I was instrumental to the launching of an online project focused on improving development information and news in the Niger Delta. I have spent the major part of my career working to bring social change to Niger Delta communities. Currently, I am a member of the Presidential Inter Ministerial Committee on the Niger Delta housed under the Office of the Vice President working on the Niger Delta New Vision (#NDNewVision) Project. I am the founder of Dinovate Consulting, an integrated media and Development Communication Company based in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria.

    With your training as a chemical engineer and experience in journalism and digital communication, what informed your choice to stick with the development sector?

    I have always had a passion for solving development issues. In 2008, I began using online and traditional media to bring awareness and to resolve unvoiced social issues affecting the Nigerian students on campuses. As a correspondent, I was reporting development-related issues in the northern part of Nigeria. I remember during the 2011 General Elections in Nigeria, I was at the forefront of the election violence in Zaria reporting about the electoral violence. So, I will say, development has always been a part of me. On graduating from the university, I got the opportunity to work for a media organisation and most of what I did then was writing about development issues, both nationally and internationally. I also freelanced for the United Press International based in the United States. My first opportunity with a full developmental organisation was with Chevron’s Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta where I was responsible for coordinating development content and news stories in the Niger Delta. This opened so many opportunities for me in the development sector. I am also the curator of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers’ Community, Port Harcourt Hub, where I lead the forum to execute several developmental projects. Some of them included the Safer Schools Campaign, Stop the Soot, Open Africa and the SDGs awareness campaign.

    You are a man of many roles and responsibilities, what keeps you motivated when the going gets tough?

    Thank you for this question. Sincerely, the world needs more productive minds this time, far more than it has ever needed it. There are developmental issues affecting many nations of the world and there is a constant need to keep everyone abreast of these issues. These plethora of issues coupled with my passion to improve the state of the world in my own little way keep me going. The mere fact that I am still alive and still have the opportunity to be a blessing to the world and contribute to its improvement tells me one has to keep on going, till this world gets better.

    Are there lessons you have learnt on the job that you’d like to share?

    Quite a lot. In the last few years, I have learnt many things and still learning. Be courageous (face your fears), be humble and admit it when you make mistakes. Learn the art of networking and seizing opportunities. Don’t rest on your present level, there is more to be achieved; if you don’t believe in yourself nobody will. And, finally, put God first in everything.

    What’s your advice to young professionals eyeing careers in the development sector?

    Development sector is a very interesting one and has a lot of opportunities. Find an area you are passionate about and be clear about the skills you have to offer and where these might fit. To be successful in the development sector, you need strong administrative office-based skills, especially for entry levels such as digital and computer skills, marketing skills, communications, fundraising etc. Networking is also a key skill required to go far in the sector.  Please don’t forget to volunteer as much as you can.

    With your experience teaching digital media strategies to social workers, do you believe social media advocacy can drive positive change in our society?

    I believe the answer is yes, social media advocacy is driving positive change and development in the society, especially in Nigeria. In the last couple of years, social media has impacted the level of governance positively; it has been used by Nigerians to bring government’s attention to several issues. From #OccupyNigeria, a campaign held

    in response to the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government in 2012 to #BringBackOurGirls where Nigerians used social media to organise and demand answers from the government concerning the whereabouts of the missing Chibok school girls to #OpenNASS a campaign that demanded an open, transparent and accountable National Assembly to #ChildNotBride, a campaign against girl-child marriage and most recently to #EndSARS, a campaign against police brutality in Nigeria.

    I started teaching Digital Literacy in 2015 because of my passion to improve the knowledge, skills, and behaviours of organisations, especially development organisations in Nigeria. Knowing fully well that technology is constantly breaking barriers in social change, from artificial intelligence to big data to the ubiquity of smart phones, technology is constantly changing the way people do things and creating changes in the society. My passion is to make development organisations see the important role technology plays in creating greater impact in their local communities.

    Any high point teaching digital media strategies to development practitioners?

    Since 2016 till now, I have trained over 40 organisations across 15 states in Nigeria on proper use of digital technology for effective storytelling and advocacy. I also teach them on developing visually appealing and interactive infographics using data visualisation tools to report impact of their activities and showcase their projects to their respective audiences. This has helped them to tell their impact stories better in a way that will appeal to the citizens, funders, the government, prospective donors and important stakeholders. I am passionate about how data and communication practices bring social change to communities.

  • Resumption: Rivers bemoans poor turnout of pupils

    Resumption: Rivers bemoans poor turnout of pupils

    The Commissioner for Education in Rivers, Tamuno-Sisi Jaja, on Tuesday  lamented the poor turnout of pupils and students  in  primary and secondary schools.

    Jaja spoke on the sidelines of  his ongoing inspection of schools in Port Harcourt.

    He expressed regret that some schools were yet to reopen for academic activities inspite of  several notices on the Monday resumption date issued  by the Ministry of Education.

    Read also: Low turnout of workers as work resumes in Abuja

    “The low turnout of pupils and non-compliance to our directive  is quite worrisome.

    “However, we are impressed with the level of compliance by private schools that have re-opened for academic activities,” he said.

    Jaja said the ministry would continue to monitor and enforce  resumption of  schools in the state.

    NAN