Theresa Ahok is in a hurry in a remote northwest corner of South Sudan. The 35-year-old is from the village of Adiang and walked for an hour and a half before managing to flag down a truck to drive her and her sick son another hour to the hospital. “I’m racing”, she says,” and I’m worried I won’t get to the hospital in time.” Her son Bakita is two and a half years old and has Malaria. She gave him some anti-malarial medication at home but it didn’t help. He then started convulsing and she knew it was time to make…
Author: Kunle Atiba
A group named “Mada Development Association (MDA)” in Nasarawa State has called on the State Government to construct a palace for the first-class traditional ruler of Mada, Mr Samson Gamu-Yare. The Chairman, Care Taker Committee of the association, Mr Josiah Musa, made the call yesterday during the inauguration of MDA’s newly elected officials and launching of its 2016 Almanac in Akwanga. The Chun-Mada is the paramount traditional ruler of Mada nation in Akwanga local government area of the state. It was learnt that the traditional ruler has been using his personal residence as palace since his appointment in July 2013 by Governor…
A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development at University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Idris Badiru, says dry season farming yields more money to farmers. He told our correspondent in Ibadan yesterday that farmers get more returns from less effort in dry season. The Agricultural Extensionist said that the crops planted during the dry season (between November and March) are usually vegetables and maize sometimes, stressing that the products are always fresh and healthy. Badiru emphasised that planting during the dry season pays more to farmers as the vegetables are usually more expensive and neat unlike the ones gotten in rainy season.…
Pastor Isaac Abioye, the Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church in Bwari, has advised Christians to fast and pray always to attract God’s blessings. Abioye gave the advice in a sermon with the topic: “Understanding the Blessedness of Fasting and Prayer”, which he delivered at a ceremony to mark the first Sunday service of the year. The sermon was the first in the series of teachings for the month of January on the theme: “Prayer and Fasting Facilitates Fulfilment of Prophecy”. He said that prayer and fasting was a divine instruction designed to enable Christians to profit in their endeavours…
The Co-Chairman (Muslim) of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council in Lagos State, Dr Saheed Timehin, has enjoined religious leaders in Nigeria to promote love and unity among the various religious groups in the country. Dr. Timehin, an Islamic scholar, stated this in a lecture titled: “From Convergence to Divergence: Muslims and the Search for Identity”, which he delivered at the Bi-Monthly lecture of Bodija Estates and Environs Muslim Community (BEEMC) on Sunday in Ibadan. He said that love and peaceful co-existence among human beings had been ordained by God and was what a cleric must preach. “Love, patience, endurance, and righteousness are the various…
A IT firm, Signal Alliance yesterday called on government at all levels to utilise technology for efficiency in governance. The firm’s Director of Sales, Mr Chukwunonso Emeh, said in a statement obtained by our correspondent in Lagos that the use of technology would improve government efficiency and investment potential. He said that the government needed to look toward technology in strategising and bringing on board policies that would transform the Nigerian economy in 2016. According to the statement, the international community, through different governing bodies, has introduced indicators that are used as guide to enhance certain attributes within a country, using specialised…
Commuters and motorists in Lagos State yesterday experienced light traffic on most of the roads in the metropolis as the New Year festivities continue. A correspondent, who monitored traffic situation in the metropolis, reports that the ever-busy Ikeja-Oshodi, Ikorodu-CMS and Orile-Iganmu-Mile 2-Badagry Expressways recorded light traffic. Few yellow passenger buses and private vehicles were seen plying the roads. The usual crowds of passengers at Bus Stops such as Ojota, Ikeja, Ketu, Costain Roundabout, Orile-Iganmu,Yaba, Oyingbo and Oshodi disappeared. A commuter, Yinka Olatunde, who spoke with our reporter, said many residents had travelled out of the city, while others might be staying indoors to celebrate…
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, was among those who did not participate in the local government election conducted in the 14 local government areas of the state yesterday. The three senators and seven House of Representatives members from the state were also conspicuously absent at the election. The state Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) did not announce the number of political parties expected to field candidates for the polls. Only the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) fielded candidates. NAN correspondent who monitored the poll in Gusau recalled that the PDP issued a statement on Friday that the party would not…
A non-governmental organisation, Campaign for Democracy (CD), yesterday observed that corporate bodies and faith-based organizations were not doing enough to assist Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. Speaking with newsmen in Enugu, the South-East Chairman of the organisation, Comrade Uzor Uzor, said that the IDP camps scattered in most states, were in dire need of welfare facilities. According to him, it is not enough to just “pray” for the IDPs and “wish them well”, but that efforts must be made to touch their lives in practical terms, to give them a sense of belonging to the society. “The government cannot do it…
The Executive Secretary of Kano State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency, Mr Ali Bashir, says the state government will provide assistance to victims of 2015 flood disaster next week. Bashir gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Kano on Saturday. He said people whose houses were destroyed by flood particularly in Albasu Local Government Area would be compensated. The executive secretary, who did not disclose the details of the assistance, said: “Assistance will be given to them next week.’” “The state government has plans for the flood victims, wait and see what will happen on Tuesday next week.”…
The National President of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Major-General Umaru Usman (rtd), has called the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, to collaborate with stakeholders in fashioning a new national transport policy. He told the newsmen in Lagos that a new national transport policy was overdue. Mr Chibuike Amaechi, Transportation Minister and immediate past governor of Rivers, had in December 2015 announced that a new national transport policy was in the offing. Usman, who noted that an effective integrated transportation system was critical to the nation’s economic prosperity, said such a policy would help to drive the economy in…
The Chairman of Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Segun Olulade, said the state government will spare no effort in paring down child and maternal mortality rate in the state this year. He told newsmen yesterday in Lagos that the legislative arm would give the executive the necessary support to reduce infant and maternal mortality. “We will look at the issue of children and see how to reduce infant mortality in the state. In the same vein, maternal mortality is worrisome and legislative support will be provided to check the rate,” he said. Olulade, who was a former Chairman of House…
The Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Mr. Sunday Oliseh, has named the B squad for the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda. This was disclosed yesterday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja. The Federation, in a statement by its Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire, said the coach released the team’s final list of 23 players for the championship. It said the list has goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Austin Oboroakpo and Chima Akas, 2016 Olympic team midfielders Usman Mohammed and Yaro Bature, and forward Chisom Chikatara, among others. “The list also has Enyimba International FC’s winger Ezekiel…
A maritime expert and former Sole Administrator of Maritime Academy in Oron of Akwa-Ibom, Mr Olu Akinsoji, yesterday enjoined companies and agencies in the maritime sector to adopt students in the various maritime institutions and sponsor their training. He made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. He said by sponsoring students’ training, companies and agencies would be helping to develop a pool of skilled manpower that would in turn meet their personnel needs in the future. “One of the problems in the maritime sector is the lack of skilled manpower to adequately drive the growth of the industry and free it…
Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello has congratulated a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Kutigi, on his 76th birthday celebration. In a statement, issued by Mallam Jibrin Ndace, the Chief Press Secretary of the Governor, in Minna on Saturday, Bello described Kutigi as a towering judicial colossus, moral crusader and paragon of virtues. The governor lauded the exemplary leadership demonstrated by Kutigi as the Chairman of the National Conference in 2014 and described the assignment as a selfless service to Nigeria and humanity. He said the intellectual capacity and vast experience of Kutigi enhanced the performance and credibility of…
In ensuring that major and independent marketers comply with the new pump price of N86.50/litre as directed by the Federal Government, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has begun to visit filling stations in Plateau State. It was reported that in Pankshin the officials of the department visited the central and southern zones of the state to ensure total compliance. The department’s team Leader and Human Resources Assistant, Mr Habib Yahaya, told newsmen in Pankshin yesterday that it was useful for both major and independent marketers to comply with the new pump price. “All NNPC Mega Stations are expected to sell the fuel at…
Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma, the Bishop of Orlu Catholic Diocese, yesterday unveiled the African tallest statue of Jesus Christ weighing 8.5 metres (28 ft) at St. Aloysius Catholic Parish, Abajah, Imo. The statue made of marble is bigger than the 20 metres (66 foot) Ramesses ii Abusimbel statue in Egypt. Ukwuoma Performed the ceremony shortly after a mass attended by the Bishop Emeritus of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Gregory Ochiagha, and more than 100 priests at St. Aloysius Parish Abajah compound on Friday. Chief Obinna Onuoha, who donated the Jesus statue had constructed 2,000 seating capacity parish church at St. Aloysius in…
The Assistant Director of Public Affairs in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mrs Dorothy Bassey, disclosed yesterday in Lagos that DPR has read the riot act to filling stations who sell petrol above official pump price of #86.50k and #86 respectively. “We have put effective monitoring teams in place that will go out to monitor the level of compliance with the new pump price. We will ensure that any station caught selling above the pump prices will have its product dispensed to customers for free. You know that there is holiday today, monitoring is going round, but we are going to commence on…
The chieftain of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Sunday Jonny, yesterday donated gift items to 150 widows in the area. Jonny said that the kind gesture was to show appreciation and love to widows in the communities who could not afford one square meal in Onna. The items donated included rice, wrappers and five cows to the people of the communities at Qua Iboe Primary School, Awa. “Since we are in festive period, I only came to appreciate my people and to let them know that they have someone like me in…
Security has been enhanced in the New Year for safety, free movement and to allow those on recreation to enjoy themselves at the Parks and Gardens in Abuja. At the MagicLand and Amusement Park, formerly known as Wonderland located at the central area, vehicles and people were on strict security checks before people were allowed into the park. At the Millenium Park, Mrs Chinwe Odogwu, said that the management of the garden had put different security measures in place because of the human traffic expected at the park during the New Year celebration. Odogwu, a staff of the park told…