The Nation Newspaper

Tag: TRAIN

  • Saraki flags off Train 2 of Indorama fertiliser plant

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has laid the foundation for the construction of the Fertiliser Train 2 of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited.

    He said with $3.2billion invested in Rivers State by the foreign investors, it shows that Rivers people are receptive to investors.

    According to him: “I am congratulating the people of Rivers State for creating the right environment for this investment.  I like the example that Rivers people are setting for others to follow”.

    Saraki noted the successful production of urea in Rivers State, which is used mostly by northern farmers underscores the need for national unity.

    “Urea Fertiliser products are used by farmers, especially in northern part of the country. That tells us that we must unite. We must support ourselves irrespective of party affiliation.

    “Without peace, there will be no urea. For all of us in Nigeria, let’s work in the interest of our country “, he said.

    He said Nigeria cannot diversify the economy without developing the agricultural sector.

    While commending the management of Indorama, the Senate President noted the National Assembly will support the growth of the plant.

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said Indorama has performed creditably through quality investments in the state.

    He wondered why anyone would say that Rivers State is not safe for investments when the Foreign Direct Investment by Indorama has hit $3.2billion.

    Managing Director of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited Maniah Mundra said the foundation stone ceremony of the second train project will produce 1.5million metric tonnes of urea fertilizer.

    Mundra said this would bring Indorama fertilizer production to 3million metric tones.

    He said that $3.2billion has been invested by the company over the years.

    According to him, it is the highest investment by any foreign investor in the last 25 years.

     

  • Fed Govt seeks UNESCO’S help to train information managers

    Fed Govt seeks UNESCO’S help to train information managers

    The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has been urged to assist Nigeria in building the capacity of public information managers, in view of the changing dynamics of the information landscape due to the advent of the social media.

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday when he received a delegation from UNESCO in his office.

    “The information era of the 60s, 70s and 80s are not exactly the information era of today. In the 70s and 80s even up to the 90s, we depended largely on the print, radio and television to mould opinions and views. But today, with the social media, I think it’s a completely new ball game and this is where UNESCO will also need to adapt, especially in the area of support they give to us.

    “Today, our young ones – I think it’s correct to say that about 80 per cent of them, don’t rely on the traditional media: newspapers or even radio or television, as their source of information. Today, they rely more on the social media. Even the traditional media today also have realised that unless they are also present in the social media, their impact will probably not be felt.

    “So I want to appeal to UNESCO…to look at how you can assist us in capacity building in the area of social media,” he said.

    Mohammed said such assistance becomes imperative because the social media has now become a platform for the dissemination of fake news and disinformation, which is a nightmare for public information managers.

    He, therefore, appealed to UNESCO to focus more on building capacity on how to manage information emanating from the social media.

    In the area of culture, the minister said Nigeria has now become a powerhouse in the creative industry through the proliferation of its films, music and other forms of entertainment.

    Leader of the delegation and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Africa Mr. Edouard Matoko said the organisation was ready to support the development and implementation of the Creative and Culture Industry Action Plan for Nigeria to build the capacity of the youth, especially in the film and entertainment sector.

  • Grieving father recalls last moments with son before he was crushed to death by train

    A staff of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, Mr. Francis Idoko, was all grief yesterday as he relived his last moments with his son, Paul, who was run over by a train at Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Friday morning.

    Idoko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) how Paul gave him transport fare to go to work earlier than day, only to be informed later that he had died.

    The bereaved father said that moment before he set out for work on the fateful day Paul “came into my bedroom to greet me because he was ready to go to work too.

    “When Paul came in, his mother was lying on the bed. And I asked the mother if she had a N50 note to give me because my neighbour usually gives me a ride to Maitama Junction from where I take a cab to complete my journey to the office.”

    He said his wife answered in the negative.

    Paul then brought out a N200 note and gave his father.

    Soon after Idoko senior got to the office, one of his friends “called me and asked me to call him back that there was an emergency.

    “I called him, he said ‘your son is dead’ and I replied ‘it is not possible!’ This was the boy that gave me transport fare this morning.

    “Later my neighbour, Hassan, also called me to tell me. I called my wife, who was in the living room watching TV with my daughter.”

    Idoko said Paul’s mangled body was later gathered from the rail tracks.

    He said he went to the Police Post for support to take his son’s remains to the morgue.

    “The police said they don’t have that authority.

    “So, we went to Phase IV Police Station before taking him to the morgue at Kubwa General Hospital and they accepted the remains.

    “By the grace of God, people rallied around me and I was able to bury my son at the new cemetery by Arab road.”

    He told NAN that an officer from the Federal Bureau of Investigation also came to his house and requested for permission to speak with him.

    “The officer said the DPO and the area commander were interested in the case,” he stated.

    Idoko, who hails from Adim Community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue said: “ordinarily, I expected the management of the railway station to come and commiserate with me.

    “This is not about money, we are talking about a succeeding generation that has just died and nobody is saying anything,” he sobbed.

    Idoko, who said his son was into photography and satellite dish installation, described the late Paul as a hardworking and humble young man.

    A friend of the deceased, Sunday Garba, said of the tragedy: “I called Paul in the   morning because he got a job to install a satellite dish about two days ago and was yet to finish it. I asked him where he was and he told me he was by the rail line.

    “I told him I would join him later. He called me later and asked if he should be going to the house to complete the outstanding work.

    “Before I reached the rail track, I saw the train advancing so I stopped. This was around 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. But by the time the train passed, I called his phone line but it was switched off!

    “I started looking for him after the train passed but all I saw was a shirt on the ground and his mangled body. I didn’t know what to do. I burst into tears.

    “I was confused. Who should I call?” he told NAN.

    Garba described the incident as devastating and sad.

    When contacted on telephone, the FCT Police PRO, Mr Anjuguri Manzah, said he was not aware of the incident.

  • Fed Govt to train 11,300 displaced persons in Northeast

    Fed Govt to train 11,300 displaced persons in Northeast

    The Federal Government plans to train 11,300 persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, says  Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige.

    Ngige spoke at the inauguration of the programme yesterday in Maiduguri.

    The minister was represented by Mr Ibrahim Jibiya, the Director, Skills.

    He said the beneficiaries would be trained under the Skill Acquisition Programmes of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    He said  the programme would help to fast track rehabilitation, resettlement and stabilisation in the war-ravaged region.

    Ngige said that the Federal Government accorded priority to youth and women empowerment through skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development programmes.

    “The president is determined to empower youths and women through articulated policies and programmes, to create job opportunities and enhance wealth creation in the society.

    “Employment is a key component of individual and national development. It provides platforms for supporting and fulfilling individual personal achievements and goals as well as contributing to the national economy.”

    The minister lauded the Borno State Government over its agriculture transformation programme designed to diversify the state’s economy.

    The NDE Director-General, Alhaji Nasiru Argungu, said the agency would train 4,000 persons in Borno, 3,100 in Yobe, 2,500 in Adamawa and 1,700 in Gombe.

    According to him, 70 per cent of the beneficiaries will be women and the vulnerable, adding that the beneficiaries will be exposed to various trades.

    He listed the trades to include the production of pomade, soap, jelly, perfumes, tie and dye and hair dressing, among others.

    “The male beneficiaries will be trained in carpentry, block moulding, auto-mechanic and GSM repairs,’’ the NDE boss said.

    He said that the agency had designated training centres in the participating states while monthly stipends would be paid to the trainees.

    Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State hailed the Federal Government for the gesture, saying that it would go a long way in improving the social and economic well-being of the displaced persons.

    Shettima called for the expansion of the training scheme to enhance participation in the programme.

  • Woman dies after being hit by train while taking selfie

    Woman dies after being hit by train while taking selfie

     A Thai woman died after being hit by a train while taking a selfie on the railway track, police said on Friday.

    “Walailak Sukuma, 28, was proclaimed dead at a Bangkok hospital hours after an oncoming train hit her and her friend while the pair was taking a selfie, Wissanusak Suebin,’’ a police investigator in charge of the case, told newsmen.

    Wissanusak said Walailak’s right leg was cut off by the train’s wheels, while her friend, 24-year-old Amnaj Nawantip, suffered a head injury and a broken arm.

    The pair was part of a group of five friends who had been drinking beer at a railway station in Bangkok.

    According to railway officials, the group often hung out drinking beer near the rail tracks.

    “The difference is that this time they were taking selfies too.

    “Their friends said they didn’t see the train approaching the platform.

    “The group said they have learnt their lesson now, but it remains to be seen if they will come back in the future,’’ Wissanusak added.

  • Sahara Group, Zuriel train 90 girls in filmmaking

    Sahara Group, Zuriel train 90 girls in filmmaking

    The popular Grooming Film Entrepreneurs’ initiative of Sahara Group has found another ground to soar, by partnering Nigerian-American filmmaker, Zuriel Oduwole to train 90 young girls in the art of filmmaking.

    The project which seeks to promote economic empowerment through the arts has drawn the 90 beneficiaries from Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’ivoire.

    The Lagos edition kicked off on Monday at the Lagos State Skill Acquisition Center, Surulere, where the Principal of the school, Mrs. Yetunde Akin-Taylor expressed her excitement for the girls, who will be adding to the skills already acquired at the center, emphasising the need for the girl-child education.

    Tagged “Empowering the African Girl Child”, Sahara is set to rewrite researcher’s statistics, indicating that 15 million girls of primary school age – half of them in sub-Saharan Africa – will never enter a classroom, hence the collaboration with Oduwole, young film maker and advocate for girl child education and gender equality.

    The filmmaking session, running from January 8 – 17, 2018, is expected to give the beneficiaries a head start towards pursuing a career in the creative arts.

    Head, Corporate Communications for Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma says, the project is expected to drive the advocacy message for girls’ rights, highlight key issues affecting girls across the three African countries and equip 90 girls with the foundational skills required to become film makers. “Sahara Group is particularly passionate about the fact that the project would give traction to ongoing conversations and interventions geared towards the pursuit of Gender Equality and Quality Education, being Goals 4 and 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

    Oduwole is hopeful that the success of the project would encourage more corporations around the world to create partnerships with small groups to empower more girls.

    “I like the fact that Sahara Group sees some value in what I am doing with Girls’ Education across the world, and just like the African proverb, if you want to go fast, go alone, and if you want to go far, go together. I think I have gone very fast in the last 5 years, since I started my project at age 10. Sahara has shown they are serious about Girls Education, so it’s easy for me to create a partnership, so we can do more together, for Girls Education in Africa, and also around the world,” said Oduwole who, at the age of 12 had her self- produced movie screened in a commercial cinema.

    Manager, Sahara Foundation, Oluseyi Ojurongbe said the filmmaking workshop would run for two days in each of the three countries, adding that “the participants will be expected to execute a joint docu-film project featuring human angle stories of children across Africa – using their countries as case studies – to highlight challenges, opportunities and aspirations of the girl child in Nigeria, Ghana or Cote D’Ivoire.”

     

  • Credit Direct CEO, others train entrepreneurs

    Credit Direct Managing Director, Akin Ademosu and other stakeholders in the finance industry have trained entrepreneurs on key steps to achieve business growth and success.

    Speaking at the fourth Triple A annual retreat in Lagos, Ademosu explained that success in today’s economy requires that business leaders and corporate entities create positive memories for their customers or partners.

    He shared his over 15 years’experiences on how he turned a business of N200,000 into a company with over 30 branches across the country.

    The event organiser and entrepreneur, Ade Adefemi, said it had remained a forum, which yearly,  brings together people from various sectors to help nurture and expand their ideas.

    The primary purpose of the forum, he said, was to promote Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) operations.

    Adefemi and others shared insights from the businesses they run and how they have kept them on the cutting edge.

    Another speaker, Cornel Agwu, spoke on personal finance management and improvement. He helped the participants to discover various perspectives on how to increase their finances in the coming year.

    A communications expert, Ifeoma Williams, who spoke on how branding and communications skills can increase the bottom line or the lack of it and subsequently put a business in a precarious situation, however, pointed out cutting edge strategies which individuals or organisations can use to reposition themselves for future growth.

    The event, which had breakout sessions, enabled participants to develop practical approach to business development and growth.

  • Residents to ride trains by December

    Residents to ride trains by December

    After years of work, the Abuja light rail will offer train rides by the Yuletide, GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    It has taken years to achieve, but it is here, finally. By Christmas, you could walk out of the plane at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and walk into a train that will take you straight to the business districts of the nation’s capital.

    That was the Federal Capital Territory Administration Transportation Secretary, Kayode Opeifa assuring that the Abuja Light Rail project will kick off in December.

    Okpeifa said the FCTA was committed to the rail mass transit project and will launch it at the end of the year.

    Opeifa reaffirmed the position of the administration during a familiarisation visit to the vehicle inspection office.

    He said, “Let me reiterate that the December completion target for Abuja Rail Project remains sacrosanct. From the level of work I have seen on ground, this December completion period is achievable.”

    Opeifa, who expressed satisfaction with the pace of work done so far, further disclosed that the project has attained 98 percent completion, adding that the rail project would drastically ease transportation challenges in Abuja when operational.

    “I am very much impressed with the way the project has been going. So far, the project has hit 98 percent completion rate. This is very encouraging and impressive.

    “As we all know, this project will address immensely our nagging transportation issues in and out of the city,” he disclosed.

    FCTA, he said, is working assiduously to address whatever that may constitute a challenge against the project from becoming operational in due time.

    According to the Opeifa, when the project finally takes off, it would further add to the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

    He called on Nigerians to continue to support the change agenda of the President which was hinged on making Nigeria great in the comity of nations.

    He commended the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello for his dogged commitment to ensuring the project takes off in due time.

    “We need to commend the Minister for his courage in seeing to the timely completion of this very critical project,” he said.

    Speaking further, Okpeifa said,  “The issue of safety should be taken serious. And it is not restricted to ember months. A lot of people are driving under the influence of various things. It is more of a public enlightenment than physical presence. We are working with other agencies especially the FRSC. Our approach is to put the men on the road.

    “We are meeting the stakeholders, the unions, the motor parks, to talk to them on the safety on our roads. The roads in Abuja are good but our major problem is overspending. And it becomes so much complicated when you speed when you are drunk. We will focus on the drunk while driving.

    “The outlook is in line with the Abuja master plane. The major infrastructures have been put in place. That is the road and the rail. There is a lot of work traffic in Abuja. This administration under the minister has moved to fast track the completion of the rail project. The lot 1 and lot 3 of the rail is 98% completed and by the end of the year it will be ready for commissioning. So people can now move from the city to the airport.

    “You will agree with me that before now the Nyanya axis has been a problem. But now it is better. There is currently a taskforce handling that aspect of the road. On the issue of those who have encroached on the road, we will continue to appeal to them. It is part of our thirty days plan that the end of November we hope to improve on the travel time on that road by 20%.”

     

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Osun offers free train ride

    The Osun State government yesterday said it would offer free train ride from Lagos to Osogbo, the state capital, for this year’s Eid-el-Kabir holiday.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, said the gesture is part of Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people.

    The statement said the free train ride will depart Lagos twice for Osogbo and operate only one trip for the post-Sallah return journey.

    It said: “The first train moves from Lagos on August 30 at 10 am from the Iddo Terminus in Lagos through Ogun and Oyo states to Osogbo. Another one leaves at the same time on August 31 through the same route down to Osogbo.

    “After the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the train leaves Osogbo on September 3 for Lagos. This, we have concluded, as the plan for this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival.”

    The government hoped the free train ride would give Osun indigenes the opportunities to return home to celebrate the festival with their relatives.

    The statement said: “This is one of the social protection projects of the Aregbesola administration. Since we started this over six years ago, we have not looked back. Even in the face of harsh financial constraints, we have strived to keep this offer going convinced it has offered opportunities for people and helped their finances.”

  • Coerver to train coaches in July

    The soccer skills teaching method COERVER COACHING, is back in Nigeria for the second year running with the Youth Diploma 1 course for Nigerians coaches.

    The professional certificate course will be held between July 6 – 8 in Abuja at the Premier International school.

    The Lagos leg will hold at the Lagos Preparatory school Ikoyi between July 10 and 12.

    A statement by Executive Director Search and Groom youth for Development Centre and representative of COERVER COACHING in Nigeria, Yomi Kuku, said:   ”In cooperation with the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA); under the “development through football” partnership status, there is a greater consideration for the 2017 training course to be held within the schools environment as we go into the next phase of our strategy to work with schools to officially adopt the COERVER COACHING method as a learning tool during extra-curricular activities”

    Technical Director and CEO of COERVER COACHING Netherlands, Rainel Woerdings, will lead the coaching team to Nigeria.

    Lagos State Football Association Chairman and First Vice-President of the Nigeria Football Federation Seyi Akinwunmi, has implored grassroots coaches to take the advantage of this huge opportunity right at their doorstep by registering to participate in order to build their own capacity to be able to function more technically and proficiently.

    The Chief Operating Officer of COERVER COACHING Mike Smith, said he is excited to return to Nigeria.  has revealed his excitement at seeing ”Coerver® Coaching return to Nigeria after the first ever training course was held in 2016.

    Mike said “Our Youth Diploma 1 course has been delivered in over 30 countries and has won acclaim from grass-roots and professional coaches alike for its innovative, practical material and the results that come afterwards in the development of skill, confidence and creativity in coaches and their players. There is clearly potential to significantly improve the football experience for young people across Nigeria, and it all starts with developing better coaches”.