The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UK

  • UK to rebuild Mile 12 market

    UK to rebuild Mile 12 market

    The popular Mile 12 market in Lagos may soon witness a huge turnaround in its fortunes, with the show of intention by the United Kingdom (UK) to support the Lagos State government in its quest to develop the market to international standard.

    The development, the Permanent Under-Secretary of the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), James Wharton, said is in line with UK’s Department for International Development (DFID)’s aids programmes for Nigeria, during a recent official visit to the market.

    Wharton’s trip was to assess the extent of works to be carried out at the market in line with the Lagos State government’s plans to restructure the market.

    The United Kingdom spends about £500 million in aids for Nigeria annually through DFID aids progrommes. The visit, according to Wharton, was also to look out for areas of possible investment in the market.

    Wharton, who was received at the market by the Chairman, Mile 12 Market Management Committee and Chairman Perishable Food Stuff Market Association, Haruna Muhammed and other executive members, noted that the market offered lots of investment potential, but added that a lot more work needed to be done to ensure it delivered what the people expected from it.

    He added that the UK government would play significant role to support the market men and women to add value to their produce.

    While addressing Wharton and his team, Muhammed said the investment opportunity by UK would bring a lot of relief to the market, adding that the market had never benefited from government assistance since its existence.

    “Over 40 years of its existence, there had never been any government’s assistance, we need assistance from both government and the World Bank,” Muhammed said.

    The association’s Financial Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Usman, said the visit by the UK team came at a most appropriate time, adding that the confidence of the traders for a better future for the market has been rekindled.

    Shehu, who was one the traders who benefited from training tour to South Africa, hailed the Lagos State government for its ‘robust and mature’ handling of the development of the market.

    According to him, the South African training trip, organised by the GEMS Ford foundation, was an eye opener for the participants.

    “All of us who participated in the training came back to Nigeria with a better understanding of how market issues and trading are handled,” he said.

  • US, France, UK, Canada assisting with technology to track Chibok girls—Minister

    US, France, UK, Canada assisting with technology to track Chibok girls—Minister

    Nigeria has been receiving technological assistance from the United States of America (USA), United kingdom (UK) France and Canada, among others, in tracking the location of the abducted Chibok girls, Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said yesterday.

    Mohammed, who was responding to questions from newsmen after detailing efforts by the federal government to have the girls released from the  Boko Haram captivity  said the military’s containment of the terror sect  was being under celebrated in this country.

    He said:  “You know if the matter were that simple, it would have been resolved a long time ago. Let me start like this, you find out that in my address I said that many friendly countries have availed us of their technological and material resources and I am talking about advanced countries like US, UK, France, Canada, so it is not really as simple as you have said.

    “I will tell you this, when they say Sambisa Forest, what do you think it is Sambisa Forest. It is about 300 kilometres stretch; you know this is not Jabi Lake or Jabi Park. And in some of these areas we can’t even fly any helicopter because of the  density of  the forest.

    “More importantly, even if you identify the location of the girls, you will not want to open fire on them. And we know from all intelligence that these girls are kept in several places. If you attack one place where they are being kept, they may slaughter the others.”

    The minister insisted that the military was winning the war against Boko Haram.

    He added: “As for the efforts of winning the war, I think I have had occasions to say that the success of Nigerian military in winning this war of terrorism is rather under celebrated in this country.

    “I think those who live in the North East appreciated better what the government has achieved in the North East in the last couple of months.

    “Before now, nobody could travel to Maiduguri, Damaturu, Konduga, or Gwoza. Today, because we have liberated those areas, everybody can go there. Before we came, 14 out of the 20 local government areas of Borno alone were under the sovereignty of Boko Haram, but today not one single local government area is under their sovereignty.

    “Before now, it was with regularity that Boko Haram struck; now they have been dismantled, they have been decapitated, and all they do now is probably marauding.

    “Now, there are three ways by which insurgency might end, it is either insurgents overrun the government, and instill their own government; you know where it happened in many places in the world. Or both sides will be weary of war and sign a peace agreement. You saw what happened in Colombia recently.

    “Or the very rare case, where the government will wipe out insurgency and this is what is happening in Nigeria. So I think we must give that credit to Nigeria, to this administration for being able to deal decisively with Boko Haram insurgency.”

    On the activities of Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG), the minister said the group had legal right to protest within the ambit of the law.

    He said the group comprises intelligent people and the IGP warning to BBOG was only meant to protect security within the precincts of the Presidential Villa, but not to denigrate the campaigners.

    He said it was wrong to allege that the government had used and dumped the BBOG leaders.

    He said: “Now as to your question of using BBOG and dropping them, I think this is extremely, extremely unfair allegation. The BBOG, those people involved are Nigerians and many of them voluntarily joined BBOG, some of them were in PDP, some of them in APC, it was their choice.

    “Does it mean the fact that because one of them who was far more political, who was also involved in BBOG, has been given an appointment, we have now picked some and dropped some?

    “I don’t think so and we did not use anybody and dump anybody. Absolutely, it is not correct. I think it is an unfair way to look at the episode unfolding.  And you see they are very intelligent people.

    “From my understanding, the IGP was more concerned about securing the Villa. Every Nigerian has the right to protest under the ambit of the law.”

    Mohammed pleaded for understanding on the case of Chibok girls because hostage-taking and liberation require much time.

    He said: “In 1978 when Iranian students  held some Americans hostage in the embassy, how long did it take for the negotiation and for the release? In that situation, they were kept within the embassy of the US in Tehran.

    “These girls were kidnapped in April 2014; we didn’t come in until May 2015, one full year after which the trail had gone very, very cold.

    “We are not trading blame, but we are saying that is it really, morally right for you not to appreciate the efforts we have made, between 2015 and today when there is no absolute record of any effort that was made for a whole one year?

    “And please you must understand that you are dealing with the lives of very young girls. Within one year, terrorists had the opportunity of hiding them anywhere in the world.

    “We tell you here that these were the efforts we have made in 2015; these are the ones we have made in 2016. And, of course, I will not be here and tell you precisely what we have done in 2016, because that will jeopardize investigations. As I speak to you, of course, they are also listening, they read newspapers.

    “On the issue of credible people, of course, you follow every lead, but you make sure that you know who you are dealing with. Like I said in my preamble, some of the lists we got were credible and some were not so credible and some were completely out of track.

    “And you see when you are in this type of situation, trying to release hostages, it is not like the Olympic Games where you can tell them that you have won one gold today and another one tomorrow, anybody can watch it. It is extremely, extremely covert operations.”

     

  • College graduands for US,UK varsities scholarship

    Three universities from the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) and Canada, have granted scholarship to some graduating students of Westerfield College (WC) to study various courses.

    The students were invited to Muson Centre venue of the school graduation, and presented their cheques as a way of encouraging them to inspire others.

    Among beneficiaries is Chinazamekpere Aranonu, WC 2016 best graduating student. She is set to leave for the University of Hertfordshire in UK to study Medicine with specialisation in Pediatrics because of her love for children.

    “It is like a dream come true. WC has been a blessing to us all. The teachers are very encouraging. While we learned from our teachers, we also learned from fellow students. But I remain grateful to God. I tried my best to stand out and God rewarded me,” she said.

    Mr Micheal Dosunmu, Managing Director of the college recalled that the academic year had not been easy. “However, with focus, discipline and passion, the college was able to record another milestone, which helped guide the students in their studies overseas,” Dosunmu added

    According to Dr. Edna Stan-Maduka, a lecturer from Hertfordshire University UK, the gesture was to encourage beneficiaries to come to the UK to study.

    Addressing graduands earlier on the theme: ‘Dare to Dream,’ Stan-Maduka, charged them to hold on to their dream for future success. “Nothing should stop you from dreaming. The road is not that smooth but I tell you, keep dreaming,” Stan-Maduka said.

    Further, he warned against parents and schools enrolling their wards in universities below 18 years.

    “Let them get to age 18 first, and by then they are already mature. They may be brilliant as individuals but not mature enough to handle the world in the university.”

    Meanwhile, the principal of the college, Dare Falodun, affirmed that the 6th graduation marks the beginning of a long journey. He said , as a tradition, WC challenges its students to put in their best, be dedicated, hardworking, innovative, committed and willing to make a difference in everything.

    “We teach them the qualities they must put in to achieve best result in school. When you are knowledgeable, you are pulled out of poverty,” Falodun concluded.

  • College graduands for US,UK varsities scholarship

    Three universities from the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US) and Canada, have granted scholarship to some graduating students of Westerfield College (WC) to study various courses.

    The students were invited to Muson Centre venue of the school graduation, and presented their cheques as a way of encouraging them to inspire others.

    Among beneficiaries is Chinazamekpere Aranonu, WC 2016 best graduating student. She is set to leave for the University of Hertfordshire in UK to study Medicine with specialisation in Pediatrics because of her love for children.

    “It is like a dream come true. WC has been a blessing to us all. The teachers are very encouraging. While we learned from our teachers, we also learned from fellow students. But I remain grateful to God. I tried my best to stand out and God rewarded me,” she said.

    Mr Micheal Dosunmu, Managing Director of the college recalled that the academic year had not been easy. “However, with focus, discipline and passion, the college was able to record another milestone, which helped guide the students in their studies overseas,” Dosunmu added

    According to Dr. Edna Stan-Maduka, a lecturer from Hertfordshire University UK, the gesture was to encourage beneficiaries to come to the UK to study.

    Addressing graduands earlier on the theme: ‘Dare to Dream,’ Stan-Maduka, charged them to hold on to their dream for future success. “Nothing should stop you from dreaming. The road is not that smooth but I tell you, keep dreaming,” Stan-Maduka said.

    Further, he warned against parents and schools enrolling their wards in universities below 18 years.

    “Let them get to age 18 first, and by then they are already mature. They may be brilliant as individuals but not mature enough to handle the world in the university.”

    Meanwhile, the principal of the college, Dare Falodun, affirmed that the 6th graduation marks the beginning of a long journey. He said , as a tradition, WC challenges its students to put in their best, be dedicated, hardworking, innovative, committed and willing to make a difference in everything.

    “We teach them the qualities they must put in to achieve best result in school. When you are knowledgeable, you are pulled out of poverty,” Falodun concluded.

  • 53 Chevening scholars for UK

    53 Chevening scholars for UK

    Fifty-three Nigerians awarded Chevening scholarships and fellowships for the 2016-17 academic year, will depart this month for further studies in institutions in the United Kingdom (UK).

    The Chevening award is the UK government’s international global scholarship programme, offered by the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office and partner organisations for fully-funded master’s study in the UK.

    Ahead of their departure, the recipients were hosted by the British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright, in Abuja. He said the programme would provide them an opportunity to improve on their careers.

    “This is my second Chevening event since I arrived at this post a year ago.  On my many travels around the country, I am constantly meeting individuals who are at the very top of their careers and it is always pleasant to hear them introduce themselves as Chevening scholars. This further demonstrates the fact that the mission of Chevening is being met – a scholarship programme which aims to train exceptional individuals and provide a prestigious platform to further activates potentials of future leaders for greater impact in the development of Nigeria,” he said.

    For this year’s scholarship, Arkwright said the most applications worldwide came from Nigeria, adding that the number selected was also far higher than in 2014.

    “For the 2016/2017 Chevening cycle, Nigeria recorded the highest number of applications globally, with about 4,000 eligible applications. Following this, a total of 53 Chevening scholarship and fellowship awards were made available to Nigerians this year.

    “This is a massive upgrade from the 12 scholars who were selected in 2014, further demonstrating the UK’s commitment to Nigeria,” he said.

    Arkwright also said that since the first Chevening award in Nigeria in 1984, more than a thousand Nigerians have benefited from the scholarship.

    He added that the British High Commission is now collaborating with LADOL, a Nigerian company, and is seeking more local partnership to co-fund the awards and give access to more Nigerians to benefit from the scholarship which boasts a global alumni network of 43,000 members.

    He charged the awardees to give their best, take advantage of every opportunity the scholarship offers, and be good ambassadors of their country.

    Responding on behalf of the scholars, Chigbo Chikwendu thanked the British High Commission and FCO for the award.

    Chikwendu, a health professional, said the award would help to finally fulfill his five-year old dream to further his studies.

    Chigbo also praised the transparency and meritocracy of the selection process which made it possible for himself and his brother, Chinedu Chikwendu to be selected for the Chevening/GSK partner award to study the same course, at the same university this year (Health Policy, Planning and Financing at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, LSHTM).

    The President of the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria, Tom Odemwingie, and others bade farewell to the departing scholars.

    Applications are currently open for 2017-18 Chevening Scholarships and will close on November 8 this year.

     

  • UK, Nigeria to collaborate on education

    UK, Nigeria to collaborate on education

    The United Kingdom and Nigeria will collaborate to improve the education sector, it was learnt yesterday.

    The process will be driven by Insight Africa UK and the British Department for International Trade.

    They will discuss the state of education in Nigeria and work toward forging a mutually beneficial relationship with UK universities, a British High Commission official said.

    Communications Manager of British Deputy High Commission Mr Wale Adebanjo, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said discussions would be held at the launch of  Insight Africa UK Nigeria, to be hosted at the British High Commission in Abuja, on Tuesday, October 4.

    He said the aim of the collaboration was to make quality education and training affordable and accessible to all.

    Adebanjo said the collaboration would “help to improve the quality of health care through quality training for health care providers, and link Nigerian institutions with reputable universities from the UK to explore areas of collaboration.’’

    He said Insight Africa UK was working with some British universities to deliver services to specific countries in Africa and extend advisory services and training to stakeholders in education and training.

    According to Adebanjo, the areas of particular interest are teacher training and re-training of teachers, continuous professional development, internship and exchange programme.

    Others are study tour, trans-national education partnership, fly in faculty, joint venture and research and dual, joint, double and concurrent degrees.

    Adebanjo quoted Ms Ralueke Parkin, Executive Director, Insight Africa UK, as saying,  “we are looking forward to start our work in Nigeria.

    “Our services are a new avenue for educational institutions, entrepreneurs, leaders and stakeholders in Nigeria and Britain to connect and seek results in collaborative approaches.’’

    He also quoted James Wharton, Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, as  saying that  ‘’Nigeria’s success truly matters to the UK and to Africa as a whole.

    “As an outward-looking, globally engaged nation, I want to deepen the broad range of support and assistance the UK provides Nigeria, including in health, education and economic reform.”

     

     

  • UK drivers lose 37 million days finding garages

    New research by online car repair marketplace, ClickMechanic, has revealed that every year British motorists lose 893,461,500 hours – that’s more than 37 million days – trying to find a garage or mechanic to fix their cars.

    With more vehicles on Britain’s roads than ever before it stands to reason that there are more drivers to experience breakdowns and other problems.

    By the end of March, there were 36.7 million vehicles licensed for use on roads – more than 900,000 had registered in that single first quarter of the year alone.

    According to ClickMechanic’s research, men are the greatest deliberators, with 16.4 per cent of males taking a whole day (8+ hours) to book their car into a garage, verses only 2.8 per cent of females. Perhaps it’s not too surprising, then, that 16.7 per cent of men confessed to having taken time off work in order to facilitate getting their cars repaired.

    Of the 1000 people surveyed, only 23 per cent were likely to get a single quote for the work needed, with 18-24 year olds being the most likely to shop around; almost a third (31.6 per cent) within that age group said they would spend time calling multiple mechanics. 23.3 per cent of those surveyed had needed to get their car repaired at least twice in the last three years.

    While over a third (37.9 per cent) of drivers said they had their car serviced annually for the last three years, more than a quarter (26.7 per cent) had only had it serviced once in the same time period.

    Anyone who’s ever experienced car trouble will know that it’s rarely a straight forward issue to get their vehicle fixed. A first, choice mechanic may be fully booked; a second is likely too expensive; and the third may lack the experience you need, or have a reputation which you are reluctant to trust. All of these can lead to drivers spending as much as eight or more hours just trying to find a suitable mechanic, without even taking into account the time of the actual repairs.

    ClickMechanic co-founder Andrew Jervis, said: “We all rely on our vehicles to get around in the UK, so the problem with repairs is that you can sometimes feel like you’re at the mercy of whichever mechanic can fit you in. It’s easy to imagine prices being hiked because the mechanic knows that you need them – very few operate that way, but it can be hard to shake the feeling for some drivers! That’s why so many people spend time shopping around.”

  • UK, PwC to boost trade with Nigeria post-Brexit

    To boost trade between the United Kingdom (UK) and Nigeria, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) have launched a report titled: “Seizing the Opportunity: An Economic Assessment of Key Sectors of Opportunity for UK Business in Nigeria”.

    The launch, which was held along with a roundtable discussion at the PwC Nigeria’s office in Lagos, recently, provided opportunity for UK and Nigerian business leaders and the UK Trade and Investment team to interact.

    The report, produced by PwC on the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, highlighted the opportunities that exist in Nigeria for UK businesses and provided guidance for trade and investment in Nigeria.

    In the context of BREXIT – the UK’s recent vote to leave European Union (EU) – the UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria, John Howell, described the report as useful in the UK’s bid to strengthen trade relations with Nigeria and other countries.

    While speaking with journalists at the event, Howell said BREXIT will not reduce the UK’s trade relations with Nigeria, but would rather increase its importance.

    He said: “I don’t think BREXIT will change the trade relationship with Nigeria. I think you’ve got to remember that my appointment as the Prime Minister’s trade envoy pre-dates BREXIT and it shows how important the relation between Nigeria and Britain was even then. So, all BREXIT has done is that it has increased the importance of that relationship. Britain is open for business. It may have left the EU, but it hasn’t left Europe.”

    Howell also said the report was very useful in that it highlighted so much about how trade is done between Nigeria and Britain and it also highlighted the opportunities that are there for the future. “I shall certainly be using it when I get back home to encourage companies to come out and-take advantage of the opportunities,” Howell said.

    The UK Trade Envoy added that he was determined to ensure that the UK becomes Nigeria’s number one trade partner by talking to both British companies and companies in Nigeria about how they can do more business together and making them aware of the opportunities highlighted in the report.

    He also noted that the floating of the naira has made it a lot easier to do business with Nigeria.

    The PwC’s Country Senior Partner, Uyi Akpata, who presented the report, said despite the current state of Nigeria’s economy, its scale, the country’s resource wealth and its strategic geographical location make it favourable for UK exporters and investors.

    Akpata said: “UK businesses are well placed to succeed in Nigeria because of its familiar legal system, strong ties through the Diaspora community, same lingua franca and the perception that UK brands offer high quality.

    “Unfortunately, the UK’s importance in Nigeria has been sliding. Since 2000, the UK has fallen from first to become only the fifth largest non-oil goods exporter to Nigeria behind China, US, India and Germany in 2014. Similarly, the UK’s share of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stock in Nigeria has decreased from close to seven per cent to less than two per cent between 2005 and 2014.”

    He added that the UK’s non-oil export and FDI in Nigeria could increase significantly depending on if the Nigerian Government will progress on reforms and enactment of policies on trade openness and also if the UK government will facilitate better cooperation between the two countries.

    The report identified six goods and services exports that will offer UK businesses the greatest potential for growth. These include, machinery and transport equipment; manufactured goods; chemical and related products; telecommunication and information services; transportation and travel; and intellectual property.

    It also identified three sectors that will provide the most promising FDI opportunities for UK businesses. They are technology, media and telecommunication; retail and consumer products; and business and financial services.

  • ‘US pushed UK into Iraq War too early’

    The United States pushed the United Kingdom into military action in Iraq “too early,” a former British ambassador to the United Nations has said in the wake of the Chilcot report.

    The long-awaited report said ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair had overstated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein – and military action was not a last resort.

    Sir Jeremy Greenstock, UK ambassador to the UN in 2003, said Mr. Blair had wanted a UN resolution backing action.

    But he told the BBC that senior U.S officials thought it was a “waste of time.”

    The Chilcot report was published on Wednesday having taken seven years to compile.

    Sir John Chilcot – chairman of the UK’s Iraq War inquiry – concluded Mr. Blair had sent ill-prepared troops into battle and had “wholly inadequate” plans for the aftermath.

    The 2003 invasion had not been the “last resort” action presented to MPs and the public, Sir Chilcot said, adding that there had been no “imminent threat” from Saddam Hussein, and the intelligence case was “not justified.”

    Sir Greenstock said he felt Mr. Blair had wanted to wait longer before taking military action.

    It would have been “much safer” to give weapons inspectors in Iraq another six months to continue their work, he added.

     

  • Fed Govt urges UK to probe stabbing of Nigerian teenager

    The Federal Government has condemned the stabbing to death of another Nigerian teenager in London, United Kingdom (UK).

    Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, said the killing of Orebiyi and other extra-judicial killing of Nigerias in UK was worrisome.

    The Presidential aide called for a full investigation of the incident and urged the UK government to ensure that justice prevails.

    In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said the killing of 17-year-old Fola Orebiyi was unacceptable to the government and people of Nigeria.

    Condoling the family of the deceased, she prayed unto God to give the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.

    She said while Nigeria would not condone crime and criminal tendencies, it takes exception to the harassment, killing and execution of its nationals abroad.

    Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in making Nigeria a better place.

    Orebiyi was reportedly stabbed to death in a street clash on Sunday, in Notting Hill, London, by a gang of youths.

    He was reportedly involved in a fight on a nearby estate with the gang, which chased him into the busy road, where he was stabbed in the neck in front of shocked passersby and tourists.

    The boy collapsed and bled to death and efforts by the Police and paramedics to resuscitate him failed.

    The deceased’s neighbour, Osman Sahal, told the police: “He was a nice boy and considerate; none of us can understand how this could have happened.

    “As far as I knew, he was never in trouble. I suppose we must now wait for the police to investigate.”

    Orebiyi, who completed his General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) at Holland Park in London, was studying for his A’ Levels at the Chelsea Academy.

    After the incident, a yet-to-be identified 15-year-old boy was arrested by the London police.

    An anonymous teenager was quoted to have told the police: “I know what happened; he was protecting a friend over a silly beef, which turned violent.”