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Tag: residents

  • Abuja residents express views on return of BBNaija

    Abuja residents express views on return of BBNaija

    Some FCT residents have expressed divergent views following the recent announcement by M-Net West Africa of its commencement of the third season of its popular reality television show, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija).

    BBNaija returns to TV screens on Jan. 28 after the final auditioning of the next batch of 12 Housemates, according to the BBNaija’s official page.

    The residents who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja expressed their expectations and reservations on the show.

    Mr. Anthony Ada-Abraham, Entertainment and Tourism Editor of Leadership Newspapers said, “many did not expect that the last edition which saw Efe from the hood clinching the ultimate price would be thrilling.

    “This year, a movie producer friend of mine is also going for the show and I think it would be great to see him doing what he knows best.

    “He is a great guy and I know if he gets into the house, he will surely win.

    “However, I expect a lot of thrills, frills and scandals,’’ Ada-Abraham said.

    An upcoming musical artiste, John Anzaku popularly known as ‘Jay Nelly’ said the show is an important platform for the development of youths and the entertainment industry.

    He stressed that some of the previous participants and winners of the show were currently doing well in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

    “Efe the 2017 winner was not known before the show, but after the show he has develop in his music career to the next level and doing well.

    “Look at Miyonse, even when he was evicted after some weeks in the house, he still got cooking endorsement deals and a television show.

    “More so, see Bisola, Debie-Rise, Tboss, Kemen and the others, they are all doing well today because they participated in the 2017 edition of the show,’’ Anzaku said.

    Miss Maria Kigbu, a student of the Nasarawa State University who could not contain her excitement said: ‘I am so happy that the show is coming up later this month. In fact I can’t wait to start watching it.

    “Last year was interesting. I believe this year will be better. I am so happy. I can’t wait to see the contestants and intrigues in the house,’’ Kigbu said.

    Meanwhile, Mrs. Pepertua Obi, a civil servant and mother of four boys said that the show does not have any meaningful impact in the lives of the teeming youths in the country.

    “When you say the show is a platform for the youth to showcase their talents, so after that what next?

    “Some of them do not have any source of livelihood but they will be looking for money to recharge their phones and buy data to vote for their favourite housemates.

    “Instead of this so called BBNaija show, they should channel the resources into talent hunt where youths will bring out the best talents in them to positively change the world,’’ Obi said.

    BBNaija is a reality TV show where 12 contestants live in an isolated house and compete for a huge prize at the end of the show. Each participant avoids being evicted by viewers through votes.

    The first season of the show was aired on DSTV from March 5 to June 4, 2006.

    Its voting results are usually verified by the auditing company of Alexander-Forbes.

    MultiChoice Nigeria, the leading Pay TV operator in the country, which announced the return of Africa’s biggest reality television show, said it will be sponsored by Payporte, Nigeria’s leading online store.

    It said the return of the show is coming as a result of the success of the second edition where aspiring hip-hop artiste Efe Ejeba, won N25 million prize money and an SUV after almost three months of drama, intrigue, betrayal and entertainment in the Big Brother house.

    Speaking on BBNaija return, the regional director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said: “Around the globe, the Big Brother format remains one of the most popular genres of entertainment and this is also the case in Nigeria.

    She said that the edition of BBNaija was one of the most successful reality shows not just in Nigeria, but around the continent with a record number of votes and many of the housemates going on to pursue careers in entertainment.

    “We are delighted to have the show return for a third edition and cannot wait for our audiences to once again tune in to experience all of the exciting entertainment that the show is sure to provide,” Mba-Uzoukwu said.

  • Osun APC hails residents for loyalty, understanding

    Osun APC hails residents for loyalty, understanding

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has praised residents, including civil servants, for “their loyalty and understanding in the difficult period of massive economic recession that Nigeria has been living through since 2014”.

    In a statement in Osogbo, the capital, by its Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, and Publicity Director, Kunle Oyatomi, the party said it was “proud of the people’s resilience and determination to forge ahead with progressive ideas, despite the difficulties that 2017 has presented”.

    The statement added: “Regardless that the state is one of the least resourced in the Nigerian federation, it has demonstrated perhaps the most innovative capabilities in effecting the changes and developments necessary for economic growth in unprecedented circumstances.

    “We have seen one of the most destructive opposition yet in Osun over the last seven years and the most evil campaign is in the making to lay to waste all that the Rauf Aregbesola-led APC government has done since 2010.

    “But you, the people of Osun State, have seen it all: you have experienced the difference between light and darkness, evil and good, and you are in the best position to make a choice.

    “In 2014, amid a vicious Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign, which drew blood and tears from the people, Osun stood firm behind the good, and they threw evil into the garbage heap.

    “Yet, for the second time in four years, the good people of Osun will again be required to decide whether they will reject the evil as they did in 2014. That momentous year starts this January.

    “In 2003, Osun made a terrible mistake of giving the PDP a chance. It was such horrible experience that in 2007, they had to vote that party out of office.  Their choice was violated until 2010, when justice was served.

    “However, evil continued to fight to steal the soul of Osun State; despite all the then Federal might and force of violence, the people of Osun stood their grounds and the PDP was again rejected.

    “This year, they will be pitching up a battle royale in the unlikely event of attempting to capture Osun and avenge 2007 and 2014. And like wounded lions, they will ravage the state by discontinuing every policy of the APC (God forbid) that had brought joy to the people of Osun.”

  • Fayemi gives rice to residents

    Fayemi gives rice to residents

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has directed that rice be distributed to residents of Ekiti State to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities.

    The distribution, which is being handled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Executive Committee in conjunction with JKF Centre, started last Saturday afternoon.

    One hundred and seventy seven wards are to get their shares; other consignments are for residents, irrespective of their party affiliations.

    Party leaders, community leaders, trade, religious and women groups were not left out.

    The Director of JKF Centre Mr. Biodun Omoleye said Fayemi, a former governor, is aware of the economic challenges among the people, especially the less-privileged, workers and pensioners, who are being owed.

    He said Fayemi decided to identify with the people to enable them share in the joy of the Yuletide.

    Omoleye said the minister would continue to assist residents in tackling social dislocations in the New Year to mitigate unemployment among youths.

  • Residents decry foul language by herbalists

    Residents decry foul language by herbalists

    Residents of Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa have decried the use of foul language by traditional medicine sellers (herbalists) marketing their products.

    A cross section of residents expressed their disgust in interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Saturday.

    Malam Yusif Ibrahim regretted that the herbalists used vulgar language to advertise their products.

    “The words which these traditional medicine sellers use in advertising their products are very immoral, irreligious and contrary to our cultural styles.

    “Honestly, these words are also offensive to the moral, religious and cultural lifestyles of the people of this area and state generally,” Ibrahim said.

    Another resident, Malam Ahmad Nasir, noted that the herbalists use public address systems to blare offensive words to everyone, not considering the age and calibre of the audience.

    “These people shamelessly use microphone to say all these words in the presence of children, women and the elderly persons; they are against our cultural belief.

    “Honestly they must be regulated by the appropriate authorities,” Nasir said.

    One of the residents, Alhaji Ahmad Rufa’i, told NAN that the activities of the herbalists conflict with the norms and values of the people in the area.

    Rufa’i said that the words being used by the herbalists are unacceptable to residents.

    “We send our children on errand to all these spots where these people sell their products. And as children, there are some words or utterances they are not supposed to be hearing at their age, so religiously and culturally, this is not good development at all.

    “They even go further to use microphones for advertising the herbal medicines and our parents and wives clearly hear all these bad languages they use, and that is very bad to the upbringing of our children,’’ he lamented.

    The residents, therefore, called on concerned authorities to check the excesses of the herbalists as well as regulate their activities.

    This, they said, would assist in promoting and inculcating good cultural values in children and other citizens in the area.

  • Oyo govt alerts residents to phony travel agencies, job scams

    Oyo govt alerts residents to phony travel agencies, job scams

    The Oyo State government has urged the residents to be wary of phony travel agencies, job scams and illegal tax collections.

    It said any organisation or individual found culpable should be reported to security agencies.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun said the government had been inundated with calls on its Ajumose Feedback Centre by victims of numerous scams.

    The commissioner said the victims had been advised to report their cases to security agencies while the government investigates such cases.

    He said: “Recently, numerous callers from across the state have been asking government to help them retrieve money paid to some phony travel agencies for pilgrimage and employment abroad. The callers said the agencies asked them to pay large sums to facilitate their sojourn abroad for jobs without a positive outcome over time.

    “Some of the callers also asked the state government to investigate some recruitment firms, which have swindled thousands of unsuspecting job seekers. They claimed that the scammers collected money from them and made them write examinations and attend interviews.”

    Arulogun said the state government was investigating complaints by some callers who said they were extorted by head teachers and officials of some public secondary schools in state in the name of collecting tax from pupils.

    The commissioner assured the residents that any individual found guilty would be dealt with according to civil service rules.

    He added that the government did not tax pupils but asked them to produce the tax clearance of their parents.

    Arulogun said initial investigations revealed that some school officials were allegedly accused wrongly while there were further investigations on those necessitating follow-ups.

    The commissioner urged the residents to do background checks on travel agencies, recruitment firms and other service-rendering firms before engaging them, adding that some of the firms engages in legitimate businesses and delivered on their promise.

    He said the bad eggs among them were denting the reputation of the credible ones.

    According to him, the media should separate the good ones from the bad ones whenever they need to promote such businesses.

    Arulogun said: “Our media organisations in the state have a major role to play in saving people from the hands of these scammers. They advertise their phony businesses in the media to the unsuspecting public. The media need to verify the legitimacy of such businesses and make them sign indemnities.”

     

     

  • Residents urged to protect projects

    Residents urged to protect projects

    Chairman of the Ekiti State Implementation Committee on Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs), Dipo Anisulowo, has urged the people to support the government by initiating community-based projects and secure same in their domains.

    Anisulowo, who doubles as the Chief of Staff to the governor, said such support and partnership becomes necessary in view of the fact that government alone cannot shoulder every responsibilities, nor know the exact area of their immediate needs, unless they speak out or embark on it first.

    He spoke at the 2017 Edition of Are-Ekiti Day celebrations, saying the government is determined to develop the rural areas.

    This is coming just as the monarch, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi, solicited more development projects, especially citing of higher institutions of learning, in the town.

    According to him, projects worth several millions of naira have been launched in different parts of the state, under the programme, while many others, initiated by communities, were appropriately assisted by the government.

    Anisulowo said huge sum of money was spent to fortify various agro-based cooperatives to boost food production and reduce hunger.

    He appealed to the people to take ownership of the projects to prevent vandalism and underutilisation of the facilities, since they were designed to spread across the state, focusing on education, health and agriculture.

    He promised that the goverment would not be partial in project execution, saying it is committed to spreading the dividends of democracy to the populace.

     

  • ‘Best Fuji Blast’ dazzles Ibadan residents

    Tanamont Nigeria, on Friday, November 24 thrilled thousands of Fuji music lovers and crooners to the maiden edition of its Fuji concert, ‘Best Fuji Blast’.

    The live concert featured collaborations from Fuji crooner, Taye Akande, aka Currency and four other talented upcoming Fuji artistes; Nurudeen Atanda aka Antenna, Idriss Akanbi aka Aloma, Mufutau Alabi aka Snr. Prefect and Ishola Ade aka Erikky.

    Packaged by foremost showbiz outfit, Kingsize Entertainment, the crowd-pulling events was a thriller, in which all four upcoming Fuji crooners gave a good account of themselves one after the other.

    The event also featured side attractions like dancing competition, drinking competition and mimic competition among Fuji music fans coupled with a raffle draw where people won household items such as standing fans, blenders, electric kettles and pressing irons.

    “I’m delighted to win Standing fan, courtesy Best Gin because I just bought 75cl bottle and won standing Fan worth thousands of naira, I really appreciate Tanamont Nig. Ltd, who brought this event to Ibadan”, said Mr. Jubril Oladele a trader.

    Present at the event are, Tayo Ogundun, Area Sales Manager for West South Ibadan, Bode Ogunkanmi, ASM for West North, Akure, Ojora Taiwo, (ASM) Abeokuta, Uche Madueke, (ASM) Lagos North and Yemisi Folayomi, Promotion and Media Manager as well as Managers, Sales Reps and Key Distributors from the South West regions.

    The National Sales Manager of Tanamont Nig. Ltd, Mr. Dele Akinloye said; “This is just the beginning of better things to come from Best Gin brands for southwest consumers and our esteemed customers. Come 2018, we are coming bigger and better for the West, with Fuji Vibes and lots of fantastic prizes!”

    Tanamont Nig. Ltd is the makers of drinks such as Best London Dry Gin, Best Cream, Best Whisky, Cruz, Voldka, Best Inferno and Magnum.

  • Lagos begins dualisation of Irede road; assures Oyingbo, Apapa residents

    Lagos begins dualisation of Irede road; assures Oyingbo, Apapa residents

    The Lagos State Government has begun  the reconstruction and dualisation of Irede Road in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of the state.

    Addressing residents at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Victory Christian Church, Irede Road,  Abule- Oshun, last week, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Abiola Anifowoshe, said the Irede Road dualisation and reconstruction project, being handled by  Fountain Construction Company (FCC), when completed would provide a “veritable and sustainable parallel route” to Lagos -Badagry Expressway and also serve as a link to Amuwo-Odofin and Oriade Local Council Development Area through old Ojo Road as well as Ojo Local Government Area through Dangote /Dansa/Tedi/Muwo and its environs.

    He also noted that the road, on completion, will improve road connectivity and standard of living in the area, as well as accommodating the expected increase in traffic volume, while eliminating traffic gridlocks, thereby reducing travel time. He noted that projects of this magnitude also impact positively on property value along its corridor.

    Anifowoshe told the gathering  that they had nothing to worry about over the project, especially as it concerns properties that may have to give way for the development. According to him, the state government under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, would not demolish any property without engaging the stakeholders to get their consent and hear them out.

    “This is the reason why we are here today to assure you that the Lagos State Government would compensate all affected property owners. My appeal to you all is that all affected stakeholders should cooperate with the state government for the growth and development of this area. We brought planning to your door step and we are here to discuss with you and appeal to you. By God’s grace, I will be here at the commissiing of this project,” he said.

    The representative of the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Shomide Lateef, explained that the road, on completion, would span 2.20km, while the Right of Way is 26.2meter. He revealed that the project which was awarded on February 2, 2017 would be delivered in February next year. A representative of the project contractor, FCC,  Mr. Adeola Agboola, solicited the support of the community to ensure that the project is completed without any hitch.

    The Oba-Elect of Irede, Oba Sheriff Bello, thanked Ambode and his team for deeming it fit to bring development to their door step especially in Irede Road, which according to him had been in dilapidated state for decades. He assured the contractors of full cooperation from his community and appealed for speedy completion of the road.

    In a related development, Anifowoshe, in another meeting with residents and stakeholders of Oyingbo and Apapa Road, assured them of adequate compensation on the proposed demolition of their structures so as to give way to the Bus Terminus construction at Oyingbo. The commissioner, at a meeting with stakeholders from the affected area in his office on Tuesday, explained that “for a modern city to come up, there is need to change the face of the state,  hence the plan of the state government is to allow some structures give way to allow the modern terminus as being proposed by the Ambode-led administration to take shape.”

    He was emphatic that the state government would compensate all affected as long as there are evidences and proof that the identified structures belong to the person laying such claims. He consequently admonished all affected property owners to bring any proof of ownership to his office. However, those without such evidence, Anifowoshe said, should take  photographs of their property and bring it to his office for verification.

    He added that affected property owners with building permit, survey plan, land conveyance or receipt collected from the family that sold the property would be adequately compensated.  “As long as you have the photograph of your structure and it is proven to be yours, government would compensate you,” he assured.

    The Project Manager, Mr. Femi Fayombo, enumerated the scope of the project to include a rail and  bus terminus at Oyingbo interchange point,  whereby a passenger can decide to take BRT bus to the terminal and join a train from the same point to Alagbado or Agege as the case may be.

    One of the stakeholders, Mrs Alaba Ogunlaja, made a passionate appeal that in as much as they are ready to cooperate with government on their planned upgrade and development, they should ensure adequate compensation is given to the stakeholders without unnecessary delay or outright failure, adding that government should ensure adequate monitoring of the marked buildings so that all unscrupulous people would not take the advantage of demolishing people’s properties.

  • Make wise choice in 2018, Osun APC tells residents

    Make wise choice in 2018, Osun APC tells residents

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alerted the residents to likely challenges they will encounter in 2018.

    A statement yesterday by its spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “The stakes for the future of the state are so high that citizens have to be clear about what was, what is and what the future portends, relative to their choice.

    “They will have to choose between continuity of progressive governance or a return to the era of unparalleled failure of political leadership, which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) inflicted on the state for seven years.”

    Describing as momentous the challenges facing the state, the party said the right choice must be made for Osun to be in the right direction.

    It said: “It is a stark choice between rotten experience of the PDP era of stagnation, filth, mismanagement and ‘squandermania’ and the APC era of monumental development, which has uplifted Osun to the status of one of the pace-setting states in Nigeria, even with the recent index, ranking Osun as the highest human capital development, after Lagos, in Nigeria.”

    The party expressed happiness that an “engaging debate was already on about this issue with a growing consensus of participants admitting that ‘the PDP is not and can never be a substitute for the APC in the state of Osun’”.

    APC added: “…The people of Lagos State in Nigeria, since 1999, have voted consistently for continuity in governance and the result has been terrific. Lagos today stands head and shoulders above all other states of the federation with the same political party leadership in charge of governance.

    “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu began the Lagos miracle in 1999. In 2007, he presented Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) to continue where he stopped. BRF blew the minds of Lagosians. When incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode came in 2015, the people of Lagos had already had 16 years of uninterrupted years of continuity of progress. It continues as you read this. Lagos should be our model. Whatever the circumstance, Osun must vote APC for continuity.”

  • Steer clear of fake news, Osun APC tells residents

    Steer clear of fake news, Osun APC tells residents

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has urged the residents with goodwill to join the party “in a massive drive to inform and educate people” about the danger of fake news.

    The party said the spread of fake news could “destroy everything good that has happened in the state since 2010”.

    It said: “We are raising awareness that so much lies, generated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and regularly circulated in the traditional, social and fake news media outlets, have done serious damage to people’s perception that some are now looking at a beauty and calling it ugliness.

    “The poison of fake news,” the APC said, “could become endemic in the state, if a concerted and vigorous re-education and positive information campaign is not undertaken urgently to restore normalcy in the information space and save the state from involuntary suicide.”

    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, the party highlighted a growing attitude among some people “whose mentality appears to have been poisoned by the PDP campaign of lies to denigrate, especially the wonderful education infrastructure and road networks which the government of Rauf Aregbesola has built”.

    The statement added: “Outsiders come to Osun and marvel in admiration at these structures. But lies look away from them in scorn, and some of those people are from the so-called enlightened communities in the state.

    “They continue, in spite of what they are looking at, to rile against the governor that the people of Osun do not need state-of-the-art schools. They prefer the ramshackle schools that PDP left in 2010 to be renovated, just as the PDP had been advocating.”

    The APC also drew attention of the residents to what it called deliberate falsehood of the PDP on the MKO Abiola International Airport being constructed under a concessionary business deal with significant Turkish government interest.

    The party noted that the opposition in the state was allegedly planning to disable the project by labelling it “inflated contract arrangement”.

    It said the opposition planned to abrogate and renegotiate, should it ever come to power in the state.

    “But here are facts.

    “It is a concessionaire arrangement which won’t cost Osun government one naira in actual construction funding.

    “Whatever the cost, it’s the concessionaire’s business to find the cost to construct the airport.

    “Ignorance and fake news peddling are dangerous poison which the PDP and a few others are spreading in Osun.

    “They will not only destabilise, overheat and eventually destroy the state, they are capable of affecting the mentality of our people negatively that they might be unable to distinguish lies from truth, the APC said.

    “Imagine the attempt to derail the airport project.

    “First of its kind in Nigeria as cargo, regular airport, with hanger facility for maintenance of aircraft

    “The project is significant for local and international business contact, as well as job creation for the state.

    “You begin to wonder why any sane person or party would want to destroy these projects if not for sheer wickedness and a tendency for ‘kleptocracy’, which is the trademark of Osun PDP.”