The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Xmas

  • Lagos to ‘decentralize’ Christmas celebration

    Lagos to ‘decentralize’ Christmas celebration

    The Lagos State Government said on Friday this year’s celebration of Christmas would be decentralised and celebrated in all the local government councils in the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulLateef Abdulhakeem disclosed this to journalists shortly after receiving an award from the Christian Conscience Group on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the best performing governor on Christian pilgrimage.

    He said the decentralisation of the celebration would be in line with the all -inclusive governance mantra of the Ambode administration.

    Abdulhakeem said: “The state government would ensure that the grassroots were involved in the Yuletide celebration.

    “The governor has decided to ensure that the Christmas celebration is fully decentralised to the grassroots.

    “This year, we are going to have the celebration in all the local government councils to ensure that all residents and churches come out to celebrate.”

    He, however, urged residents to troop out enmasse for the celebration, saying it was a moment for all to give glory to God.

  • Ambode’s wife opens LTV Xmas fair

    Ambode’s wife opens LTV Xmas fair

    Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode has declared open the Lagos Television (LTV) Christmas fair.

    She called on all Lagosians, especially fun lovers and school children to be a part of the various entertainment events slated for the Christmas season and end of the year celebration by the State Government.

    Ambode, represented by the wife of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement, Mrs. Joke Odeyemi made the call on Saturday while declaring open the 33rd edition of the LTV annual Christmas Fair at De Blue Roof, LTV premises, Ikeja.

    She assured Lagosians that the state government had concluded plans to make the yuletide season and beyond a time of endless fun and entertainment for all fun lovers.

    She noted that all the events and many more that would be holding this yuletide season further confirms the status of Lagos as the entertainment hub of Africa.

    Ambode advised that the main Christmas message should not be trivialized in the name of fun and merry making, stressing that Christ is the reason for the season.

    She urged all to emulate the meekness, simplicity and holiness of Jesus Christ, who rose from a very humble birth in a manger, to become the savior of the world.

    The General Manager, LTV,  Mrs. Funke Moore described the 2017 edition of the Fair as a special one, coinciding with the Golden Jubilee celebration of Lagos State created in 1967.

    She said the celebration would witness quiz competition among school children with focus on Lagos State.

    She said the rationale behind the competition is to test the knowledge of the children about the information they have about Lagos State.

  • Driver ‘steals’ ex-boss car to fund siblings Xmas expenses

    Driver ‘steals’ ex-boss car to fund siblings Xmas expenses

    A 24–year old driver Abass Ope accused of stealing his ex-boss’ car, Television (TV) sets and a pet dog, has confessed that Christmas needs of his siblings pushed him into the stealing.

    Ope was arrested at Ojuelegba by the Decoy Team of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Boxing Day.

    He was picked up by the police while trying to sell off his ex-boss’s Toyota Avensis 2013 model with marked AGL 734 AR for N2 million.

    Arrested along with him were three of his friends, Balogun Oluwaseun, 23, Sanni Azeez, 23 and Stephen Ewiele, 22.

    Ope had during  Christmas period stormed his ex-boss Magodo home while he and his family were holidaying in Delta State, with a conspirator to move a 100 inches LCD TV, another 42 inches LCD TV, a dog, a suitcase, two DSTV decoders and a Toyota Avensis, from the home.

    The suspect went to the house after learning that he ex-boss had travelled and that the gatekeeper had also gone to church.

    Te suspect, it was learnt, was aware of where the man usually kept keys to his rooms.

    It was revealed that his ex–boss, Ifoghale Ekinodo on getting report of missing vehicle and property called the suspect on more than two occasions to intimate him of the development but he denied knowledge of the incidence.

    Ekinodo had to cut short his holiday in Delta with his family to report the incident at Magodo Police Station.

    An RRS official later called him to notify him of the recovery of his vehicle.

    RRS quoted Abass as saying: “I took the car because I had no money to take care of myself and younger ones. They had no clothes, no shoes and this is Yuletide season. They looked up to me to take care of these expenses.

    “It was about three months now that I left Mr Ekinodo. I had worked for him for four years before leaving him in August. I left because he had a little challenge and things were pretty tough for him. I left so that he could have himself sorted out.

    “He was a very nice boss to work with. He enrolled me into university but I couldn’t continue the education when I left him. While he had this challenge, he owed me eight months salary; this prompted me to take his property and the vehicle.

    “The auto dealer wanted to pay N2 million for the car but I insisted on N4 Million because I know it is worth more than that. He offered me N1million instantly and that the balance would be ready in about few minutes time, but I decided to ignore the offer hoping that the dealer would call me back for a re-negotiation.

    “I went back to Ojuelegba few hours later in company of three of my friends, that was when RRS operatives arrested us.”

    Ekinodo said: “I am in shock. This is a guy I treated like a son. Apart from my wife, he was the closest person to me. This is a guy that did my shopping for me. Even, before I buy anything for myself, I bought for him first. How can I owe him eight– month salary when he never worked for me in those periods? Did he inform me that I owed him? He was never in my house in the periods he claimed. I called him more than twice when I got the report of the break in. He told me he knew nothing about it. If he had told me he needed money, I would have given him because we were still very close despite the fact that he was no longer working for me.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) urged members of the public to always do a background check of their domestic staff so as not to expose themselves to criminals.

    She said the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Yaba, for further investigation.

  • NUT lifts members at Xmas

    NUT lifts members at Xmas

    Lagos Branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has sold food items including rice and ground oil to its members at reduced prices.
    The gesture is part of the NUT “End Well Scheme,” aimed at assisting members going on retirement.
    NUT Board of Trustee Chairman Moshood Oladipupo said the food items would be of help to them before they get their gratuities and pension.
    The Scheme, he said, bought the items from their contributions, adding that payment is spread over six months.
    NUT State Deputy Chairman Adedoyin Adesina praised the Scheme’s management for providing the food items. He said the scheme was different from its cooperative society, adding that it was only for those who were about to retire.
    The scheme’s Acting Secretary Gbenga Ayetoba said: “We can’t sit and watch our members wallow in poverty in the face of recession. We observed that with these commodities, we should be able to give them something for the season. It is part of our responsibility to cater for our members’ well-being and as we can see our members are happy with our efforts.”

  • Xmas: More troops deployed to Kafanchan, others

    •Curfew relaxed to 12 hours

    Ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, more troops have been deployed to troubled areas of Kaduna State, just as the 24-hour curfew imposed in the three local government areas of Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf has been relaxed to 12 hours.

    Spokesman to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, in a statement, said “In order to strengthen security in Southern Kaduna and the state at large, more troops and operatives, comprising the Nigerian Army, DSS and other intelligence personnel/investigators have been deployed to ensure the security of citizenry and maintenance of law and order. The Nigerian Police has also deployed various units of Mobile Police, Counter Terrorism Units (CTU) as well as many units of both conventional and undercover police to adequately provide security to the people.

    “You may recall that the governor had met Mr. President regarding the security situation in the areas and the intelligence reports at the disposal of security agencies.”

    “Similarly, the 24-hour curfew imposed in three local government areas (Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf) will be relaxed to 12 hours from 6am to 6am with effect from 25th and 26th of December, 2016. However, the 24-hour curfew in the LGAs will continue on the 27th December 2016.

    “Citizens throughout the state can contact security agencies via the following emergency numbers: 0703-967-5856, 0807-539-1105.

    “You may contact the Area Commanders through the following numbers also: Kaduna Central Senatorial District: 0803-385-0043 or 0803-433-1872. Kaduna North Senatorial District: Zaria: 0803-317-4270 and 0806-128-6619. Kaduna South Senatorial District: Kafanchan: 0813-262-0315 and 0803-632-9263”, he said.

  • Xmas: Let’s pray for Nigeria to overcome challenges – Buhari

    Xmas: Let’s pray for Nigeria to overcome challenges – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigerians should use the Christmas period to pray for divine guidance for the country to overcome its current socio-economic challenges.

    The President, who made the call in Abuja on Saturday in his 2016 Christmas message to Nigerians, noted that “there is no better time than now in our nation’s history to pray for divine guidance to get over our current challenges.’’

    He said the nation could have peace if all citizens learnt to tolerate and appreciate one another, respect constituted authority, and be each other’s brothers’ keepers.

    “As we celebrate this year’s Christmas, I believe that it is very appropriate for us to reflect on the love of God, aptly espoused in the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the President as saying in his message.

    “During his earthly sojourn, Jesus Christ repeatedly reminded his disciples and followers of peace that come in the midst of trials and tribulations on earth.

    “During this period, we should remember to offer special prayers to God for all our heroic citizens who paid the supreme price to restore peace and security in the North East and other flash points in the country.”

    He also urged Nigerians to remember in their prayers, the security forces in the frontline, making sacrifices   to rid the nation of terrorism and violence.

    President Buhari also enjoined the citizens not to forget the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), as well as those who had suffered untold hardship as a result of activities of insurgents and terrorists.

    The President reassured that his administration’s immediate priority was to alleviate the poverty of Nigerians by quickly stimulating the economy.

    “I assure Nigerians that our government is doing its best to make life easier for all.

    “Let us therefore, renew our hope in the God-ordained unity, progress and prosperity of our great nation.

    “I wish all travellers safe movements and a memorable holiday as we celebrate with our families and friends,” he added.

     

  • Julius Rone plans surprise package for Xmas

    Popular billionaire, Julius Rone, has a surprise up his sleeve for the Yuletide. At a time that men and women of affluence are putting finishing touches to grand Christmas parties or big trips to exotic locations abroad with their coterie of friends and hangers on, supposedly in the spirit of the festive season, Julius has decided to do something different.

    Perhaps finally struck by the true essence of the season, which is giving, the billionaire boss of UTM, an oil and gas company, has concluded plans to do a ‘Special Xmas’ with the poor and the downtrodden. Those who should know have said that Julius will organise the programme in Abuja, his base, and his home state, Delta. It is another evidence of the milk of human kindness that flows in the veins of Rone whose foundation has given scholarships to scores of indigent youths from the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

    Having waded through the murky waters of poverty himself, he is determined to help others do the same by giving back to the community.

    Besides his sense of empathy with the less privileged, Rone is a visionary and man of impeccable business pedigree who in a short time has transformed his energy company, UTM, from a small business to one of the biggest players in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

  • Xmas: Ayade subsidises rice, tomatoes prices by 40 %

    Xmas: Ayade subsidises rice, tomatoes prices by 40 %

    The Cross River  State government is subsidising prices of foodstuff, such as rice, tin tomatoes, groundnut oil and sweet corn, by as much as 40 percent .

    The subsidy on the foodstuffs, which is already drawing  traffic from even neighbouring states  to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone where the foodstuffs are being sold, is the first of its kind in the state according to some residents.

    A bag of rice that goes for between N22,000 and N25,000 in the open market is being sold at N15,000 in Tinapa.

    Also a pack of tin tomatoes that sells for  N9,000 in the market is being sold at N6000 in Tinapa.

    Sweet Corn and groundnut oil is being sold are N8,000 and N7,000 repectively as against N11,500 and N11,000 in the open market.

    Commsioner for Finance, who also doubles as the Manging Director of Tinapa Free Trade Zone, Asuquo Ekpeyong Jnr., said the subsidy on the foodstuff was to enable citizens celebrate the Christmas with their families despite the economic condition in the country.

    Ekpeyong said: “The Governor, Senator Ben Ayade decided  to subsidise the cost of food stuff in this yuletide season to enable the people of Cross River State  celebrate with their families whether they are indigents or not.

    “We reduced the cost, working with the operators by paying off some of the cost of the goods up to 40 percent.”

    Mr Felix Eyibo, who came to see his family living in Calabar from Akwa Ibom, said: “I decided to branch and buy some food stuff in Tinapa due to the price reduction because I can’t see at such a price at Uyo. God will bless your governor and I hope other governors will see the good things he is doing in Cross River State and copy same.”

  • Rotary celebrates Xmas with patients

    Rotary Club of Gbagada in Lagos has donated some household items to Gbagada General Hospital patients.

    The club’s President,  Lanre Akintilo, former president and District Governor Yomi Adewunmi and over 50 members danced from ward to ward during the donation. Many of the patients joined the chorus from their beds.

    Akintilo said they embarked on the trip to show their joy at Christmas. He said the lessons of the day, which involved sacrificial giving and sharing, were also what the club preaches. He praised the hospital for its cleanliness, saying it was possible through ‘’the exceptional leadership’’ provided by its Medical Director Tayo Lawal and the hospital’s 530 staff.

    For Adewunmi, it was a homecoming for the club. He traced the relationship between the club and the hospital to 28 years ago, when the club laid the foundation, built and inaugurated the Children’s Ward. Over the years, he said, the club has donated various items worth millions of naira to the hospital.

    Representative of the Commissioner for Health, Dr Atinuke  Onaiyiga, who is the  Director, Medical Services, thanked the club for the gesture and for adopting the hospital as a recipient of its corporate social responsibilities (CSR). She praised the government for its health delivery service, noting that it is doing a phenomenal thing. She however called for ‘’strategic planning for health services for all citizens’’.

    Lawal, a former president of the club also thanked the club for its gesture, noting that yearly the club members came to the hospital to felicitate with patients.

    At the event, awards were given to some staff and wards. Female ward won the first prize, followed by maternity and male wards. Dr. Popoola Olalekan, won the Best worker Award while the Best Junior Worker Award went to Muyili Ramoni, the hospital’s Chief driver.

  • Xmas break for Eagles

    Xmas break for Eagles

    • Players to leave camp Dec 23

    Christmas holiday has been extended to the players of the Super Eagles, who are in camp in Abuja preparing for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Kigali,Rwanda.

    Sporting Life gathered authoritatively that the tecnical crew had to squeeze out two days out of the team’s tight training programme to allow the players spend the Yuletide with members of their family.

    To this effect, the players, coaches and backroom staff are to leave the camp on December 23 for the Christmas vacation and return on December 26,which is Boxing Day to continue intensive preparations for the championship which begins on January 16, 2016.

    “The coaches wanted the players to remain in camp during the Christmas break because the tournament starts barely three weeks from now but had to allow the team to go spend sometime with their family members”

    It was understood that the players have been given a stern warning to report back to camp on December 26 and to avoid activities that could affect their physical fitness and form.

    The Super Eagles have been placed in Group C which includes Tunisia, Guinea and Niger. The team will be making its second CHAN appearance.

    Nigeria won bronze at the 2014 edition of the competition in South Africa. The tournament will be held from January 16 to February 7, 2016 in the cities of Kigali, Butare and Gisenyi.