The Governor of Cross River, Prof. Ben Ayade, has described the annual Calabar Carnival as the “largest street party in Africa”. He made the remark today in Calabar at the grand finale of the 2015 carnival and noted that the festival is unique in promoting talents and unity among Nigerians. The governor pointed out that apart from promoting talents and creativity, the carnival had united the people of Cross River and other Nigerians. “We are celebrating 11 years of the carnival; the greatest street party ever; the greatest show in West Africa, this is just the beginning. This is my first carnival as governor…
Author: Admin
The President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Mr Greg Ogbeifun, today called on investors to tap the potential of Nigeria’s ship-breaking and recycling sector. He made the call in an interview with our reporter in Lagos. Mr Ogbeifun said that prior to this time, ship wrecks were taken to foreign countries for breaking and recycling but the cost of moving such wrecks had made it unprofitable. “There are many wrecked ships scattered over the waterways of Nigeria. Until the 1960s, ship-breaking was considered a highly mechanised operation concentrated in industrialised countries such as the U.S., U.K., Germany and Italy. From the early 1980s,…
Security experts in Lagos today called on security agencies to do regular psychological evaluation and training for security officers for enhanced efficiency. The experts said this while responding to separate interviews in their reaction to cases of accidental discharge by some security personnel in Nigeria. A security consultant, Mr Olaitan Adams, said that such training should be regular and should dwell on how to handle arms. “Aside the training, the agencies should also subject the officials handling guns to periodic psychological evaluation to monitor and stabilise their state of mind,” he said. Also, Head of Media Operations at Bells Security, Mr Charles Sullivan said…
Rev. Fr. Simon Akuraga, the Cathedral Administrator at Catholic Diocese of Jalingo, yesterday called on parents and guardians to inculcate sound moral values and cultural norms in their wards to make them responsible citizens. He made the call at a get-together party held for children at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Cathedral, Jalingo. He explained that the event was meant to teach the children to adhere to the teachings of the church when they grow up in addition to imbibing good family values. “The church promotes good family values and we organised this party to bring the children and their parents together…
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, discloses his ministry will leverage on nation’s cultural industry to create jobs which will eventual reduce unemployment in Nigeria. He said this during the inauguration of the “One Lagos Fiesta” at Agege Stadium, Lagos yesterday’s night. “I can assure you that by January 2016, when we will start rolling out our programmes, we will be able to mop up as many unemployed youths as possible using the cultural platform,” he said. He said that the Federal Government had earmarked N500 billion in 2016 budge to help young people who wanted to acquire skills and trade.…
The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) today urged the Federal Government to approve the pending National Software Policy (NSP). The advice is contained in a statement issued in Lagos and signed by the president of the society, Professor Adesola Aderounmu. According to the statement, the NSP blue print is aimed at providing a strategic roadmap to make the country competitive in the area of software engineering. It added that it would assist the country to have a digital knowledge development and implement e-government strategies as an imperative for corruption-free, equitable, productive and knowledge-based society. The statement said that the society was committed to…
Senator Abdullahi Adamu representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) says President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to diversify the country’s economy. He spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Monday, noting that the present administration had said it on many occasions that Nigeria could no longer depend on oil and gas based economy. “Oil and gas have tended, over time, to spoil us; people have got used to easy money but now the wells are drying, even if they are not, the market is becoming very hostile. The price has gone down and the demand for…
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) today says that petrol would soon be available in filling stations across Nigeria. The South-West Chairman of the union, Mr Tokunbo Korodo, told our report in Lagos there had been improvement on loading of petroleum at the depots in Lagos. He observed that Nigerians would appreciate the present regime if it could reduce the price of petroleum. The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, had earlier said that a price modulation in petrol would begin by January 2016. Dr. Kachikwu disclosed this during his inspection of the Port Harcourt Refinery…
Omu-Aran branch of Nasirul-lahi-li-fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) in Kwara, yesterday, honoured sixteen distinguished personalities with merit awards. The beneficiaries cut across all spheres of human endeavours, including businessmen and women, civil servants, medical practitioners, religious leaders as well community leaders. Each awardee was presented with a copy of the Holy Qur’an and an award plaque at the occasion. The association’s branch Chairman, Mallam Abdulraheem Tajudeen, said the gesture was meant to spur the award recipients to do more in their contribution to Islamic religion and the larger society. “I want to thank the Almighty Allah for the awardees of today as…
A micro-economist and life member of Nigeria Economic Society (NES), Sir Ayodele Oyinloye, has recommended a complete review of the Nigerian salary structure for workers. He made the recommendation yesterday in llorin, Kwara State while speaking with newsmen. Oyinloye described the present salary structure as faulty. He noted that some states received billions of Naira from federal allocation while yet some of them find it extremely difficult to even pay salary or implement the N18,000 minimum wage. He said leaders and politicians should make sacrifices by cutting down their take home pay and allowances, the Federal Government should be able to pay an average Nigerian worker N30,000…
The year 2015 has come and almost gone, yet the Nigerian Senators at 8th National Assembly has recorded significant progress, as well as faced a number of challenges. The distinguished Senators of the 8th National Assembly, under the leadership of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki have all in one way or the other contributed immensely to the successes and achievements of the 8th Nigerian Senate thus far and most importantly to the growth and development of Nigeria as a whole. Below is a list of the ten most vibrant Senators of the year 2015. These set of Senators have been selected because of…
The Minister of State for Petroleum and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed that the nation’s refineries had been repositioned to produce not less than 10 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, per day. He stated this yesterday during his official visit to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC). According to him, the mission of the visit was to ascertain the current state of the refinery and identify areas of challenges for the workers at the refinery. “A lot of work has been done and a lot manpower have…
A cleric at the Christ Apostolic Church, Aduralere District Headquarters, Pastor Olakunle Olangbaju, has enjoined Christians to emulate the peaceful nature of Jesus Christ as the year runs to an end. He gave the advice yesterday in Ile-Ife during a special service to mark the last Sunday of this year at the Church. Pastor Olangbaju said that birth of Jesus Christ had brought joy, peace, salvation, wealth and blessings among others unto the world. He urged Christians to accept Jesus fully into their lives and emulate his lifestyle as the prince of peace. According to him, only Jesus can give rest of mind and guarantee…
Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has urged the Federal Government to probe the failure of Mr Labaran Maku to rescue the Chibok girls when he was the supervising Minister of Defence in the last administration. This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Tukur Ahmed, yesterday in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The statement said the probe was necessary in the interest of justice and fairness to the parents and guardians of the 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno. According to the governor, the ongoing trial of the accused…
Alhaji Bashir Albasu, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), has urged the Federal Government to address growing level of injustice, ignorance, poverty and corruption at the grassroots. He made this call at an interview with newsmen during the 2nd Edition of the 2015 Nigeria Security Exhibition and Conference (NISEC) in Abuja yesterday. Terrorism is fuel by poverty, ignorance, poverty, corruption and injustice in the country, hence the need for the government to address the situation to restore peace in the country, he said. Albasu said that in addition to what the federal government was doing to fight insurgency, government should go to the grassroots…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has determined to involve some security agencies such as Department of State Security (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in prosecuting pipeline vandals. The Managing Director of Petroleum Products and Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, disclosed this on Sunday during a visit to Mosinmi Depot and Ajebo pipeline in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun State. She listed the security agencies to be involved as the Nigeria Police, EFCC, and DSS. Ogbue said that the involvement of these agencies would facilitate the prosecution of the vandals at the courts of competent jurisdiction. “We…
Over 400 kids are currently participating in a basketball clinic at the ongoing Mark d’ ball basketball competition in Otukpo, Benue. The clinic offered the young ones an opportunity to learn the rudiments of basketball. The Coordinator of the clinic, Ada Mark-Ogbole, disclosed in Otukpo that “adult-kids” were disallowed to participate in the ongoing event. “We have the required 400 kids we wanted and the unique thing this year is that we have excluded kids that are between the ages of 16 and 18. “Last year, when we had them, we had over 550 of participants, so this year, we have pegged the…
The Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA) in Sokoto State has disclosed its preparedness to commence the sales of 2016 Hajj seats on February 2, 2016. This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the agency, Alhaji Farouk Umar, to newsmen today in Sokoto. “This followed a resolution reached at the end of the just-concluded Hajj stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja, where states were required to make adequate and early preparations for the success of 2016 Hajj,” it said. The statement also said that the agency had introduced new measures to ensure smooth and proper documentation of…
A clergyman at Christ Apostolic Miracle Church in Ikole of Ekiti State, Pastor Olusola Adewumi, has called on Nigerians to sustain their commitment to national unity. He made the call today in an interview with newsmen in Ikole after the last Sunday service of the year. Pastor Adewumi also noted that the commitment of the citizenry would further strengthen the oneness of all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic background. He urged Christians and faithful of other religions to tolerate one another for sustenance of peace and harmonious relationship. According to him, imbibing the spirit of tolerance by every Nigerian will promote the unity of the nation. Besides, he…
Senator Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State for Aviation, has ordered the suspension of three top officials of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, over the recent incident involving Turkish Airlines at the airport. He disclosed this while briefing newsmen after listening to explanations by the airport officials on the incident today in Abuja. The minister added that the ministry had also ordered thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the breach, as well as why the airline brought in passengers without their luggage. The suspended officials, according to him, are the Airport Manager, Terminal Manager and Head of Airport Security, who…