The Nation Newspaper

Tag: seeks

  • Keshi seeks tough opponents

    Keshi seeks tough opponents

    Ahead of the 2013 Nations Cup draw billed for South Africa October 24, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has declared he will prefer a tougher draw especially in the early stage of the continental fiesta which kicks off January 19.

    The former Mali and Togo coach who has received over a dozen basketful of contratulatory messages since the 6-1 demolition of Lone Star in Calabar, took to the social network, facebook, Monday to bare his mind, even as he thanked Nigerian for their immense support.

    “Many have been praying and hoping that Eagles should not be grouped with tougher opponents when the draw will be held but for me, I prefer meeting tough opponents first because in the continent of Africa, there are no minnows as far as football is concerned,’” he said

    The big boss as he fondly called is however not limiting his prayer for good outing to South Africa, but extend it to the World Cup to be hosted by Brazil in 2014, pleading with the Almighty to “bless the good works of our hands” and by extension legs of the team.

    “After the Nations Cup in South Africa, the World Cup qualification matches start and I pray that God Almighty Who has been with us all will continue to be with us and also bless the goodworks of our hands,” he posted

    Keshi took over the Eagles on 2nd November 2011 and has so far prosecuted 12 matches beginning with the goalless tie against Botswana 10 days after taking over from Samson Siasia to the goal rain in Calabar.

  • Customs boss seeks royal blessing

    Nigeria Customs Service Seme Border Area Comptroller, Othman Salleh has visited Oba of Lagos, Rilawan Akiolu, seeking royal blessing for his anti-smuggling campaign.

    “I am here to pay homage to you on assumption of office and for your blessing on my anti-smuggling campaign, trade facilitation, and revenue drive at Seme Border,” he said, adding that he recently took over from the erstwhile comptroller, Sadiq Sahabi.

    While assuring Salleh of his support, Oba Akiolu advised that he should “be close to people on ground to gather intelligence.” “Even though there is no patriotism on empty stomach, but if you are prayerful, your ways will always be blessed.”

  • Researcher seeks sweet potato flour as alternative to wheat

    A Rwandan Agricultural Scientist/researcher, Kirimi Sindi, has advised African countries to use sweet potato flour for confectioneries as an alternative to wheat.

    Sindi, in a paper presented at the 16th Triennial Symposium of International Society for Tropical and Root Crops, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, noted that sweet potato is rich in Vitamin A. His paper was entitled What is the consumers’ perception of bakery products made with Vitamin A rich sweet potato and wheat?

    He said the consumption of sweet potato could eliminate Vitamin A deficiency common in many parts of the continent.

    “Sweet potato is better than wheat because it is cheaper while imported wheat is costly,” Sindi said.

    He explained that Africa had many local alternatives to wheat flour that could reduce the cost of producing confectioneries.

    According to him, flour made from potato and cassava can be used to bake bread, doughnut, biscuits and cakes, reducing production cost by 15 per cent.

    Sindi said that a study, conducted by himself and four other researchers in Rwanda showed that confectioneries, made a combination of sweet potato flour and wheat, tasted better.

    He said that respondents in the research, preferred such confectioneries to those made from only wheat.

    “Manufacturers who import agricultural commodities like wheat are facing increasing costs due to rising commodity prices. Sweet potato can replace up to 40 per cent of the wheat in bakery products. This can lower production costs, save a country’s foreign exchange, and increase the rural farmer’s income,” he noted.

    Using the Rwanda study as a reference point, Sindi recommended the establishment of more and efficient distribution and supply chains.

  • Obi seeks aids for communities submerged by floods

    Obi seeks aids for communities submerged by floods

    ANAMBRA State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on organisations, the Federal Government and the International community to rescue the state from flooding.

    He said Anambra is the worst affected by the current flood ravaging many parts of the nation.

    Obi spoke yesterday during a tour of affected local governments of Ayamelu, Ogbaru, Anambra West and Anambra East.

    He said he was calling off a trip to Mexico to oversee rescue missions.

    According to him: “The only trip I am disposed to undertaking for now is answering calls to help the affected communities or for discussions on how to mitigate the suffering of those affected.”

    The governor held meetings with stakeholders at the communities he visited on possible way of rendering immediate assistance.

    He set up camps for the displaced and sent vehicles and boats to evacuate those trapped, while ordering cabinet members to stay with affected communities.

    According to him: “We will continue to do everything possible to see that our people are taken care of even if it means borrowing this time around.”

     

  • Salami seeks 3SC return

    Salami seeks 3SC return

    Gbolahan Salami has said he wishes to return to Shooting Stars after he quit Enyimba.

    The former Sunshine Stars forward said he is presently a free player and he would want to return to Nigeria Premier League after a long break and the only club he would join is Shooting Stars.

    “I want to return to 3SC because of my love for the team and the fans as well.

    “Whenever I receive a call, it would be from Ibadan fans and all they want to know is when I was coming to rejoin their darling team,” he told MTNFootball.com.

    “My answer now is yes, I wish to return to Shooting Stars. I want to return to the team because it is my dream team and I’ll be happy to rejoin them.”

    Last season, Salami was eased out of ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ for what was termed “gross insubordination”.

    And some top officials have said they are against Salami’s return, blaming the former Olympic team star for some of the team’s problems last season.

  • Mark seeks intervention fund for states ravaged by floods

    Senate President David Mark at the weekend urged the Federal Government to provide intervention fund for states affected by floods. He said the fund would enable flood-ravaged states to meet the challenges of relocating the victims.

    A statement by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Senator Mark spoke when he visited Kabawa and Ganaja areas of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, ravaged by floods.

    He was quoted as describing the effect of the flood as devastating. He said he thanked God that the number of casualty is minimal.

    The Senate President was quoted to have said: “The victims are entitled to decent living. Kogi State Government will collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that you return to your homes as soon as the flood recedes and the rain subsides.

    “But I urge you not to be in a hurry to return home so that you do not contract water-borne illnesses.

    “What I have witnessed in the state as a result of the flood is sad. I never thought the situation was this unimaginable.

    “I had earlier visited Benue State. I can say that nobody has seen anything near this in the last 30 years.

    “I have seen the effect of the flood and I will contact the agencies responsible for a situation like this so that they can come up with what can be done to salvage the situation.”

    Mark was said to have donated N500,000 to the flood victims who are seeking refuge in a primary school.

    Kogi State Governor Idris Wada described Mark’s visit as a morale booster.

    He urged the Senate President to use his position and relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan to assist the state.

  • Ajimobi seeks govt, private sector collaboration against crime

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said only an effective collaboration between the government and the private sector would lead to a crime-free society.

    The governor spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, at the presentation of five patrol vans donated to the government by MTN Foundation.

    Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, said the pooling together of resources in fighting crime was necessary because of paucity of funds to the police.

    He said: “Before now, the perception was that government was one big behemoth which was limitless in power, resources and ability. But it has begun to dawn on us all that not only are the resources of government limited, it is humanly impossible for it to solve all the monumental developmental issues that confront it.”

    The governor said this was why his administration sought a synergy with private organisations.

    He said: “One of the first things we did when we came into office was to immediately begin to oil the rusty hinges of partnership between government and development partners.

    “By the time we began to hold collaborative meetings with these development partners, they expressed the pleasant shock that Oyo, which had hitherto disappeared from the radar of development, was showing an unmatchable enthusiasm to return to an embrace with the rest part of the world.”

    Ajimobi said his administration was committed to partnership with development partners, adding: “We believe that it is in this that our state could move forward to its desired height.”

    He described the presentation of the vans as one of the instances of an interface between government and development partners.

    The governor added that this would lead to the development of the state.

    He recalled the establishment of the Security Trust Fund by his government some months ago.

    According to him, stakeholders and the government could pool resources together to combat crime in society through the fund.

    Hailing MTN for partnering the government in securing the state, Ajimobi said the donation would help his administration to ensure a crime-free state.

    The Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, said the donation was part of the MTN Foundation’s Security Support Project.

    She said it would contribute to government’s efforts to improve security across the country.

    The MTN chief said the organisation had provided 60 fully-equipped security patrol vehicles to 11 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Ugboma reiterated the foundation’s commitment to continuously invest in enriching the lives of Nigerians.

  • APGA suit: Umeh seeks new judge

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has applied for the reassignment of the suit in which he and the party were restrained from convening meetings to another judge.

    Umeh accused the Chief Judge (CJ) of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezuluike, who is hearing the suit, of bias.

    In a letter to the CJ on Wednesday, Umeh said: “I am reasonably apprehensive that your Lordship is obviously biased and compromised in this matter.

    “Accordingly, I respectfully request you to kindly, Sir, reassign this case to an unbiased judge, who will, God willing, do justice in the matter.”

    On July 25, the court restrained Umeh from convening meetings at all levels.

    The APGA chairman said the case was adjourned to July 31 for argument on the preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

    He accused the CJ of suo muto, extending the life span of the order from July 31 to September 17 without any party requesting it.

    Umeh said: “Not only was the unsolicited longevity granted to the ex parte, I heard your Lordship read that the order will also restrain all parties, including APGA, which is not a party to the suit before the court.

    “I have no doubt that your Lordship is fully aware that by Order 39 Rule 3 (4) of the Enugu State High Court Rules, the life span of an ex parte order cannot exceed 14 days. But in this case, the ex parte order granted on July 25 was by judicial fiat extended till September 17, a span of nearly two months.

    “Despite denying me a copy of the proceedings of July 31, you refused to deliver the ruling on the Notice of Preliminary Objection before you on September 17.

    “I strongly believe unseen forces are pulling the strings to frustrate our party and deal with me as the national chairman. I will resist such evil machinations by all lawful means at my disposal and ensure that truth and justice triumph.”

    The APGA national chairman said the judge should have sorted out the issue of jurisdiction before dabbling into other matters.”

    The case will come up on September 24.