The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Unity

  • North’s youths call for unity

    • Decry insecurity

    A group of northern youths, under the aegis of the Association of Northern Youths for the Advancement of Peace, Harmony and Development, has decried the insecurity in the region.

    In a statement yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, by its President, Melvin Ejeh, the group said: “The situation is taking a negative toll on the socio-economic life of the region.”

    The group decried the alleged neglect of a minority section of the North by the majority.

    It noted that the situation would have an adverse effect on the region’s unity, if it is not stopped immediately.

    The group also decried the systematic hijack of the North’s political and economic fronts by those it said use sentiment and religion to get by.

    It noted that until this inequality is addressed and the North comes together as one, achieving peace in the North will be a mirage.

    The group advised political and religious leaders as well as various stakeholders to work for the peace, unity and mutual respect among the residents.

    It added: “Everybody in the region, who constitutionally qualifies for a position, should be supported. This should not be based on religion, because the North belongs to all of us. No individual or any religion is superior to another because we are all God’s creatures.”

     

  • FCT ministers urge Nigerians to pray for unity

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Bala Mohammed and the Minister of State Chief Olajumoke Akinjide have congratulated Christians on the Christmas celebration.

    Mohammed urged them to pray for the nation’s peace and unity.

    In his Christmas message, the urged Christians to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ and imbibe his teachings, which he said are premised on selflessness, sacrifice, patience, modesty and spirituality.

    Mohammed said the celebration calls for sober reflection and spiritual rejuvenation, adding that Jesus lived his life for the salvation of mankind.

    He said: “As you pray for the nation, I urge you to also pray for its leadership, for God to continue to guide, protect and give President Goodluck Jonathan the strength and wisdom to steer the affairs of the country, so that he will judiciously implement his Transformation Agenda.”

    Mohammed urged residents to be their brothers’ keeper and assured them of security.

    He said security is everybody’s business and urged residents to report any suspicious movement to law enforcement agents.

    Ms Akinjide said: “The Christmas period is a season of peace, goodwill and hope. It offers us a unique opportunity to express and share Christ’s message of love, peace, unity and reconciliation.

    “Residents of the FCT should use the festive period for increased spiritual devotion and live in peace with the adherents of other faiths. By so doing, we will be emulating Jesus Christ in words and deeds and imbibing the core lessons of love, tolerance, sacrifice and generosity, which Christ stood for.”

    She assured residents that the administration would continue to pursue policies and programmes that would impact positively on their lives.

    Ms Akinjide said: “The administration is making considerable progress in the transformation of the FCT. It will continue to create job opportunities for the people to achieve inclusive growth.”

    She wished residents a blissful Christmas and a rewarding New Year.

     

  • Unity commits N2.1b to housing, transportation

    Unity Bank Plc has said it has committed N2.13 billion to fund housing and transport projects in Lagos State.

    Managing Director of Unity Bank Mr Ado Wanka, who said this at the weekend disclosed that the bank had committed about N1.5 billion to financing affordable houses in the state while another N6.33 million was earmarked for the purchase of 100 42 seater buses by HFZ Transport services.

    Wanka, represented by Mrs Yemi Adeyinka, the bank’s Regional Manager in Ikeja, made spoke at the bank’s Special Day at the ongoing 2012 Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos. “The bank is involved in financing 112 housing units comprising 84 units of four-bedroom and 28 units of three- bedroom apartments in Lekki area of Lagos. “The project is worth N1.5 billion,” he said.

    Wanka said that this was the way the bank could participate in the turning Lagos to emerging mega city.

    He said the bank was also involved in promoting hospitality and tourism in the country by providing N250 million to fund the building of “African Sun Amber Residence”.

    The managing director also said that the bank was involved in financing the purchase of 50 Nissan Sunny cabs to ease transportation in Lagos to its POD of Diamonds customers. He said that the bank had been participating in the Lagos Trade Fair because it had large numbers of its branches in the state.

    “We are directly participating in the laudable steps taken by the Lagos Sate government to reshape the state into a model mega city of the 21st century,” he said.

    Mr Goodie Ibru, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said the bank had been reliable in providing finance to the private sector. He urged the bank to continue in its financial intervention to help businesses to grow in the country.