- As part of its effort to alleviate the suffering of the masses, noting the prevailing economic situation in the country, Yaba Local Council Development Authority, (LCDA), Lagos has started selling Kerosene to individual buyers at N50 per Liter as against N140 at the filling stations.
The council Chairman, Mr Jide Jimoh said that this is the third time the commodity would be sold to both the residents of the council and the masses in general.
Mr. Jimoh stated further that the motive was to assist the people at the grass root. “We consider the masses first in whatever we do and that is the essence of inviting them to the council”, he said.
So far, over 3, 000 people had befitt…
President Goodluck Jonathan has signed the Freedom of Information Bill (FoI) 2011 into law, according to a deputy director of information in the Office of the Special Adviser, Justus Abuah. The bill, which was passed by the outgoing National Assembly, was conveyed to the Presidency on Friday, May 27, 2011. President Jonathan assented to it on Saturday, May 28. - The FoI law seeks to protect right of access to public information or records kept by government, public institutions or private bodies carrying out public functions for citizens and non-citizens of the country.
It also seeks to increase availability of information to citizens for them to participate more effectively in the making…
- President Goodluck Jonathan has made the first set of appointment. He appointed the former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim yesterday as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Anyim replaced the former SGF Mahmud Yayale Ahmed.
He also retained retired General Owoeye Andrew Azazi as the National Security Adviser (NAS)
This was the first set of appointments made by the President since his inauguration for a fresh four-year term on Sunday. The appointments were announced in a statement signed by the Director of Information in the Presidency, Musa Aduwak.
It said, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as the Se…
President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria took the oath of office for a fresh four-year term on Sunday with a promise that, "The time for lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation. This is the time for action. But Nigeria can only be transformed if we all play our parts with commitment and sincerity." - “Cynicism and scepticism will not help our journey to greatness. Let us all believe in a new Nigeria. Let us work together to build a great country that we will all be proud of. This is our hour.”
The President while speaking after he was sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, at the Eagle Square, Abuja, listed the task befor…
- Worker’s union in Nigeria have vowed to picket banks that failed to recall sacked workers.
Also, the Federal Government had directed banks which late last year and early this year sacked thousands of employees without due process to recall them or face sanction.
The government gave the directive after a meeting with labour representatives, workers’ unions and representatives of the affected banks recently in Abuja.
Mr Jarvis Erohmosele, General Secretary, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution (ASSBIFI), said the government’s directive was in line with the unions’ demands.
"We will picket any bank that does not compl…
The present effort by the Ministry of Information to re-brand Nigeria may turn out to be effort in futility if the fundamental issue of corruption is not solved. This was the view of Professor Donald Nnaemeka Ike in his presentation at the Covenant University's 28th public lecture recently. - Professor Ike of the Department of Economics and Development Studies of the University stated in his paper titled “Corruption and its Impact on the Economic Development of Nigeria” that re-branding Nigeria will result to putting the cart before the horse without solving the issue of corruption adding “The product will not sell”.
The professor of economics identified corru…
- Resource creation and effective management with emphasis on Employment and People Oriented Policy; Alternative Foods Production and Process Techniques; and New method of Water Management as been identified as solutions to National Development.
Other areas identified as solutions include: Resistance Drift and Shift of Sustainable Industries; Conscious and Resistance in City Town Management; Conscious and Resistance of Pest Management; Resource Creativity of Wind Power and Energy Generation; Paper Recycling Revolution; and Metal Recycling and Possible Resistance.
These were the submission of Professor Sunday Oyewole Otokiti last Friday in his paper titled, “Resource Creation and Resi…
- President Umaru Yar’Adua on Wednesday sacked 20 of his 44-member cabinet.
Among them were Minister and Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commis-sion, Senator Mohammed Sanusi Daggash, and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo Umar, both of whom were believed to be in the President’s kitchen cabinet.
Special Adviser to the president, Media and Publicity, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi in a statement said: “At the conclusion of today's (yesterday’s) meeting of the Federal Executive Council, President Yar’Adua thanked the outgoing ministers for their services to the nation since the inception of the present administration and wished them…
Nigerian Government has rescinded its decision to withdraw from hosting the U-17 World Cup next year. This sudden u-turn follows last week's announcement that it was no longer interested in the football fiesta. - Speaking through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Olusegun Adeniyi, the government said on Tuesday that the decision followed a drastic downward review of the estimated cost from N35.5 Billion to N9 billion
Adeniyi said: “President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua today gave the go-ahead for Nigeria to host the tournament as originally planned. After giving due consideration to the many representations made by global football community and other st…
The Federal Government said weekend that the planned phasing out of the Higher National Diploma (HND) from the polytechnics would commence soon. - "The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has already short listed polytechnics that are qualified for the take-off," said Hajiya Aishatu Dukku, Minister of State for Education.
Dukku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the HND would be replaced with the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) degree.
"The polytechnics would begin to award B. Tech degrees to their graduates at the end of their courses instead of the HND. The essence is to strengthen polytechnic education and make the institutions concentrate…
The University of Abuja has accused the Veterinary Council of Nigeria of mischief and sabotage for declining to accredit its Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. - Reports have it that the VCN has denied the institution approval to run its veterinary medicine courses, citing lack of infrastructure and violation of accreditation procedure.
The council's regulations require that the institution must have qualified full-time academic staff of a minimum rank of a reader and senior lecturer as well as technical and laboratory staff.
Other requirements include a veterinary teaching hospital to be headed by a director who should be a registered veterinary surgeon of consultant status but not …
- For her leading role in a fundraiser, the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke Onyuike on Thursday was quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which subsequently seized her international passport.
The NSE boss was quizzed for her role in the fundraiser by a group, ‘Africa for Obama’, in support of the presidential ambition of Senator Barack Obama of the Democratic Party in the United States.
The group reportedly raised about N100m during its dinner/concert in Lagos on August 11, 2008.
It was gathered that the travel document was collected from her on Thursday when she reported at the Abuja headquarters of the EFCC as reque…
At the just concluded International Hands-on Training Workshop on Molecular Biology and Applied Biotech at Covenant University, Ota, it was agreed that a nation that does not take Biotechnology seriously will not make it in this 21st Century - The international workshop was held with the collaboration of Covenant University and Applied Biotech Institute, Florida, USA.
According to the facilitator of the workshop, Professor Diobu N Esiobu, global biotechnology industry consists of 1, 500 companies with annual industry revenue in USA exceeding 40 Billion Dollars and market capitalization exceeding 300 Billion Dollars.
Prof. Esiobu, a professor Micro-Biology and Biotechnology at the Flori…
- Hewlett-Packard (Hp) West Africa has expresses it desire to partner with Covenant University in the area of Information Communication Technology, business and manpower development.
The desire was made known by the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Ime Umo during a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor and some principal officer of the university recently.
Mr. Umo also uses the occasion to furnish the management team with the structure of his organization which includes Technology System Group, Imaging Printing Group, Hp Services, Consulting and Integration and Step B Initiatives.
He however revealed the plan of the company to introduce the step B Initiative to the university w…
- During the official commissioning of a branch of Oceanic Bank Plc at Apake, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala said that through such aid, business people would be able to develop their businesses and help grow the economy, reduce unemployment and crime, as well as alleviate poverty.The governor also used the occasion to announce that business activities would soon resume at the ultra-modern shopping complex in Ogbomosho. He enjoined the new bank to make use of the opportunities to be offered by the complex through collaboration with the prospective occupants for mutual benefits.He pledge to give maximum attention to creation of new international markets and free trade zones, encourage mass…
- The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMCN) began a one-week nationwide strike on Monday after which it would effects the increase in bread price.
AMCN had two weeks ago hinted that it would increase bread price by 25 percent due to an increase in the price of flour and sugar.
The Manager of Lawanson Bakery, Ketu told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Baker’s strike was to create awareness of the scarcity of flour and sugar.
He said, “If we do not go on this strike, the government and the people will not appreciate our problem adding that before now we were buying a big bag of flour for N4, 000 but now we buy it for N7, 000.The price of sugar a…
- Commercial Banks have been called upon to make more soft loans available to medium-scale Businessmen and women as well as emerging entrepreneurs in order to curtail their financial difficulty.
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Oyo State, Nigeria, made the passionate plea in Oshogbo during the official commissioning of a branch of Oceanic Bank Plc at Apake, along Ilorin Road.
Alao-Akala stated that through such aid, business people would be able to develop their businesses and help grow the economy, reduce unemployment and crime, as well as alleviate poverty.
The governor also used the occasion to announce that business activities would soon resume at the ultra-modern shopping complex…
- According to Omolayole, the ATM will run a software currently being designed by National Incorporation of China. The software is capable of communicating in all Nigerian languages, and when finally deployed, could be used at all levels to access cash as customers would be able to hear the gadgets talk in their dialect.Omolayole stated that, “An ATM has to be user friendly in term of language and general configuration. For instance, ATM that gives out instructions in Ijaw, Efik and Hausa among others will definitely make more impact on the citizens. This is what is obtainable in other developed economies of the world.”Keywords: nigeria banking business ICT
- Nigerian banks will soon have Automated Teller Machines ATM designed to communicate in all the Nigerian languages.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Khombined Technology Limited, Dr. Patrick Omolayole disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday.
According to Omolayole, the ATM will be designed with a software that is capable of communicating in all Nigerian languages, and when finally deployed, could be used at all levels to access cash as customers would be able to hear the gadgets talk in their dialect.
He disclosed that National Incorporation of China had formed a strategic partnership with Khombined Technology to make the product available in the country. He added that the…
- President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and the 36 governors took the decision at an emergency meeting in Abuja to work out solutions to the food crises. Food prices have bee soaring as part of the global food crises. In Nigeria, a bag of rice costs between N10,000 and N12,000 – (round and about $90) up from about N5,500 some months ago. The money is to be released immediately from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) The government also approved the immediate release of about 11,000 metric tones of grains from the Federal Government Strategic Reserve. That will be in addition to over 40 million metric tones earlier released from the reserve. Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ondo…
- A source in the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources said the agreement would put an end to the anxieties associated with global scarcity of food items."The involvement of the Vaswanni Group in the local production of rice in Nigeria will be a boost for the country" the source said.In the meantime, the government has been urged to renounce its earlier announced intention to ban importation of rice. Rice has become staple food for majority of Nigerians. The price of rice have sky rocketed lately, an occurrence which majority of the dealers attributed to bad government policy and to the amount they pay as tariff before the commodity is allowed into the country.A 50 kg bag no…
- As Nigerians faces imminent food crises, the Federal Government have been urged not to ban importation of rice. This followed the government's earlier announcement, that it would ban importation of rice, and the current shortage of the commodity.
The price of rice which has become staple food for many Nigerians have sky rocketed lately, an occurrence which majority of the dealers attributed to bad government policy and amount they pay as tariff before the commodity is allowed into the country.
A 50 Kilogramme bag now sells as much as N9,000 by most of the dealers, while the retailers offered them for N9,500.
Some concerned Nigerians charged the government to shelf it propose…
- Towards the end of Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, almost all the specialist and teaching hospitals which benefited from rehabilitation embarked by the administration were commissioned with fun-fair.
The former president had during his tenure embarked on the rehabilitation of the nation’s teaching hospitals with #23 billion equipment contract with an Australian firm, Virmed Engineering, in order to breathe a new lease of life into the 15 specialist and teaching hospitals in the country.
State-of-the-art equipment were supply by the engineering firm as part of the upgrading exercise to restore the lost glory of the hospitals. But alas, barely four years when the first…
- Blood is life and for this reason, Dr. A S Akanmu, an Associate Professor of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, and HOD, Hematology and Blood Transfusion College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, discuses the importance of blood donation with Ayo Ajayi. Excerpt:
AYO: Why is it important to donate blood?
AKANMU: Why it is important is that, unlike other drugs, very unfortunately, the blood is not something you can manufacture. Till today nobody has succeeded in manufacturing something that is similar to blood, which can serve the same function the blood serves in the human body. Without the blood you can not live. Infact, once somebody is bleeding, you are loosing life. And there…
- Hopes of NIgerians were already dashed about the Super Eagles of Nigeria going beyond the 1st round of Ghana 2008 African Cup of Nations. Infact they were already writen off by majority of Nigerians, particularly the media due to thier woeful performance in thier first two matches.
But the team brace up in its performance yesterday beating the Squirel of Benin Republic 2-0, restoring the hopes of the nation. Thanks to Ivory Coast's victory over Mali.
It is hpoed that the natonal team would perform better in the next matches to bring down the Nigerians Blood Preasure.
Dr. Tokunbo Olawale Coker qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon ion 1971 and retired as a principal Research Officer from Vom in Jos Nigeria in 1986. He is currently the National Presidnet of the Pest Control Association of Nigeria PECAN. In an interview with Ayo Ajayi, he highlights the impotance ans challenges of the profession. - The National President of the Pest Control Association of Nigeria, PECAN Dr. Tokunbo Olawale Coker has advised government at all levels to recognize and support and pest control business.
He also advised that the association should be seen as partner in progress with government in complementing its efforts in safeguarding the environment.
Dr. Coker made this kn…
- The call was made at an interactive session organized by the Coalition Against Tobacco, CAT, in Lagos.Participants at the event said the call as become necessary due to the danger which tobacco consumption poses to public health.Activity of these groups in creating awareness on the harmful effect of tobacco consumption in the country is beginning to yield fruits. They have often embarked on legislative advocacy programs to ensure effective tobacco regulation all over the country.Speakers at the event said litigation cases against multinational tobacco companies are paramount to compelling them to pay damages.Olatoyosi Onaolapo, Coordinator, CAT said, “What we are doing basically is t…
- In a statement signed last week by its National Publicity Secretary, Lia Mohammed, in Abuja, the party attributed the incessant pipeline vandalism to wide spread poverty and lack of basic society values. It said there is a need for poor people policy to stem such tragedies. The introduction of good policy according to him will prevent the masses from engaging in such suicide mission.The AC however commiserates with the families of the victims of the explosion, most of who were said to be women and children, as well as the entire nation on the tragedy.It also urged the Federal Government to investigate the root cause of the people’s desperation to commit suicide by willingly scooping…
