A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Abuja – Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has called for support of business mogul, Aliko Dangote, in building Truck Transit Parks (TTPs) across the country.
He made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during National Summit on Establishment, Management and Operation of Truck Transit Parks in Nigeria.
The two-day summit was organised by Federal Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC).
Represented by Mr John Eboigbe, Director of Finance and Administration in the ministry, Kachikwu said the call came ahead of the Dangote Refinery, expected to begin production between 2019 and 2020.
He said "when the refinery begins production, it would increase the number of trailers and tankers delivering products across the country, hence the need for proactive measures to minimise hazards on the roads.
"We call on Alhaji Aliko Dangote, National Association of Road Transport organisations and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to embark on private construction of truck parks and service base for their trucks and for commercialisation.
He added that "the need for Dangote to champion this call is underscored by the fact that there is a 650-million-barrel per day refinery that will come onstream by 2019-2020.
"You can imagine what the situation will look like if parks are not constructed for trucks before then.
"When TTPs are constructed, Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) will be persuaded to construct MEGA stations in the parks."
The minister added that NNPC would also provide technical and safety standards for oil tankers and trucks at the parks in line with international standard.
Kachikwu said that establishing a service base would also be of immense benefit to Petroleum Equalisation Management Fund, charged with the automation of tracking system of petroleum products on transit.
Rep. Ovie Omo-Agege, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, pledged the support of the National Assembly in establishing the TTPs.
He said that the parks, when constructed, would go a long way in addressing problems caused by heavy duty trailers and trucks on highways and in transforming the transport sector.
He said "the National Assembly remains prepared to provide every legislative support required to achieve the dream of the Buhari-Osinbajo administration for the transformation of the Nigerian transport landscape.
"The strides of the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi in this regard has been bold and indeed commendable.
"It will interest you to know that on our part in the National Assembly, besides, the Nigerian Railway Authority Bill 2016 currently at advanced stage, Chairman of Senate Committee on Land Transport, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, has equally sponsored Nigerian Institute of Logistics and Transport Bill 2016.
"When passed into law, it would contribute to developing requisite manpower in mass transit sector of the transportation landscape.
"It is my hope therefore that at the end of this summit, we will have achieved greater synergy between government and operators."
In her remark, Mrs Antonia Ekpa, Director of Road Transport and Mass Transit, Federal Ministry of Transportation, said the establishment of TTPs across the country was in line with global practice.
She disclosed that the Protocols of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) made it imperative for member countries to provide such facilities to make trade and transit within the sub-region easy, affordable and safe.
Ekpa said the TTPs, when established, would reduce accidents and gridlock on highways.
She added that the parks, also referred to as "Rest Stop'' and "Truck Terminal'', would provide guest houses where drivers could rest on transit, conveniences, filling stations and restaurants.
The Federal Government planned to establish TTPs in Lokoja in Kogi, Obollo-Affor in Enugu State, Ogere in Ogun, Jeba in Kwara and Port Novo Creeek in Lagos State.
A &P Food Limited, a subsidiary of Pladis, makers of McVitie's Digestive biscuit says it raked in an annual global turnover of $5.2billion, selling 2billion units of the product annually. A&P holds the franchise to manufacture McVitie's in Nigeria.
The Country Manager, Nigeria, for Pladis, Kwame Wiafe, who disclosed this at the launch of the promotional campaign to commemorate the 125 years of McVitie's Digestive stated: "If consumer did not love the product they would not consume that much. It is the best and original delicious digestive. We have our presence in over 100 countries with 13 factories across the world.
"McVitie's Digestive in all these countries are the same and our commitment to quality can never be comprised. Since the invention of the first and original 'Digestive' biscuit in 1892 by Alexander Grant, the quality has always be the same," Wiafe stated.
Anniversary promo
According to him, "to share this delicious and exciting milestone with all Nigerians, Pladis will give out cash and airtime to reward loyal customers in the next three months. McVitie's Digestive brand has enjoyed a lot of consumer love and support for over 12 decades across the globe, including Nigeria.
"We therefore decided to commemorate this great milestone by rewarding the very people who have made the McVitie's Digestive brand story a successful one which is our loyal consumers."
He explained that the anniversary promo which commenced July 4, 2017 will last for three months with customers wining plethora of prizes which includes N1million each for three consumers, N500,000 each for six consumers and N200,000 each for 15 consumers and an instant airtime for 45,000 consumers.
Explaining the mechanics, Marketing Director of the company, Toyin Nnodi, said that all customers need to do is buy any of the McVitie's Digestive 125thanniversary promotional packs available in 40grams, 104grams, 208grams and 302grams sizes. "Scratch the foil to reveal the unique promo code on the pack and SMS it a short code.
Lagos – The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to curb the indiscriminate cutting of roads in the state by individuals or corporate organisations.
This followed a motion moved by Mr Bisi Yusuff, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts (Locals) and seconded by Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health.Truck overturned due to bad roads all over
The motion co-sponsored by some lawmakers was entitled: "Need To Curb Indiscriminate Cutting of Roads In Lagos State".
Yusuf said: "The House is disturbed by indiscriminate cutting of roads for laying of pipes and cables, among others without approval.
"A person shall not dig across any road or setback purpose without a written approval or permit of the relevant authority.
"It shall be the duty of the person, who lawfully digs a road or setback to reinstate the part of the road dug within seven days.
"The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, in conjunction with relevant agencies, should embark on enlightenment campaign of the public.
"This should be done with a view to educating residents on indiscriminate cutting of roads, penalties for defaulters and the danger inherent in such action."
The lawmaker said that if indiscriminate cutting of roads was not checked by the appropriate authorities, it might jeorpadise the good intention of the state government for expending huge amount on roads.
Yusuff commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for delivering the construction of 114 roads across the 57 local government areas as well as the planned construction of another 181 roads.
He said that all these were parts of the efforts of the state government to sustain the Lagos Mega City status.
The House then called on Ambode to direct the Commissioners for Works and Infrastructure, as well as Local Government and Community Affairs to ensure strict compliance with the provision of Environment Management and Protection Law, 2017.
The assembly also called on the governor to direct the Commissioner for the Environment and other relevant agencies to ensure strict monitoring of all roads within the state to apprehend offender(s).
The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, urged the community leaders to join hands with the state government to protect public facilities from damage.
"The community leaders should call the attention of the appropriate authorities whenever they discover any cutting of the roads," he said.
Obasa said that leaders in Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs) and others should report any offender to appropriate authorities to curb the menace.
The speaker, after a voice vote, passed the motion and directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to communicate the House's resolution to the governor.
The House adjourned its plenary session until July 17.
Ben Agande, Kaduna. The Kaduna state independent Electoral Commission has said that it will deploy electronic voting machine during the local government election which is planned for later in the year.
The chairperson of the electoral body, Saratu Audu who demonstrated the machine before journalists in Kaduna said the deployment will ensure not only the integrity of the electoral process but will eliminate the incidence of electoral malpractice.
According to her, 6,000 pieces of the machines will be needed for the over 5000 polling stations in the State while 25,000 ad-hoc staff will be recruited for the election.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday ordered contractors working on the ongoing construction of new model colleges across the State to speed up work and deliver on schedule.
Representative of Lagos State Governor & Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd right); Sole Administrator, Yaba LCDA, Hon. Bayo Adefuye (right), Assistant General Manager, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mrs. Sherifat Dawodu (right behind); Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh (2nd right behind); Commissioner for Energy & Mineral, Mr. Olawale Oluwo (3rd right behind); Mr. Jide Adebayo Doherty (3rd left); Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje (2nd left) and Folajin Macaulay (left) during the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba, Lagos, on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.
The Governor spoke after an extensive inspection of work in the three new model colleges in Angus Memorial High School, Shomolu; Lagos City Senior College, Yaba; and Awori Senior College, Ojo.
Speaking through the State's Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who led other top government officials on the tour, Governor Ambode recalled that at the end of last year, the State Executive Council approved N10billion for the rehabilitation of existing schools as well as the construction of eight new ones, including three model colleges to boost learning experience of students in the State.
He told the contractors working on the projects to speed up work and ensure that the job must be delivered on schedule.
Expressing disappointment over the slow pace of work on the new Model College in Awori, the Governor ordered the contractor to work round the clock to meet up with the delivery time.
“I must say I am not particularly happy with the pace of work (in Awori). We have been to other two project sites approved alongside this project and work has progressed pretty well in those places.
“The essence of our going round today is to see the level of work in the sites without relying solely on the reports on paper and obviously, we can see what they have done so far.
“I will be back again in the next one month to assess progress of work. I hope the contractor at Awori will improve on the pace of work because they have been mobilized. Having been mobilized, they should do what is expected of them,” he said.
Governor Ambode, who also commissioned the ultra modern Herbert Macaulay Library in Yaba, said the facility would go a long way to improve the reading culture in the State.
While thanking GTBank for partnering the State to remodel the facility, the Governor urged other corporate organisations to take a cue and invest in the educational sector.
"On behalf of Governor Ambode, I want to thank GTB for adopting the library and for the transformation work you have done. In the Ministry of Education, we appreciate the work the bank is doing particularly with the Principal Cup and today, we are here to commission the library.
"For us in the State, we believe strongly that by doing this, we are returning this library back to the general public. It has been a very historic library in the State and with the transformation that has been done, I have no doubt that this library will be assuming a landmark position where all kinds of people can come here to enjoy the benefit. We have the e-library and other facilities here," she said.
The Governor also appreciated the Herbert Macaulay family for being part of the transformation, and assured that the State Government would continue to uphold the glory of the library.
Earlier, Managing Director of GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje said the decision to partner with the State Government to remodel the library under the Adopt-A-Library Initiative was to contribute its quota to enhance the educational sector.
He expressed optimism that with the facilities embedded in the library, residents of the State can gain access to a wide range of educational and historical materials to enhance their reading knowledge.
Among the features of the library include a room dedicated to historical artifacts-including some relating to the life and times of Herbert Macaulay, an innovation hub that will serve as a Coding Centre, a lounge/café area, a reading area with updated books and an e-library section, wheelchair accessible ramps and a finished courtyard area, among others
A MEMORANDUM of Understanding between the Oyo State government and Healthcare Communications, a leading health development and consultancy firm in Nigeria has been signed for strategic promotion and development of health care delivery. The Founder & Chief Executive, Healthcare Group, Dr. Bola Olaosebikan, (OON) described the partnership as part of the committment to transform health care delivery in the state.
He said under the MoU,Healthcare will work with Oyo State government on groundbreaking ideas, innovation and raising of N50 billion to restore 57 General Hospitals and 600 Health Care Centres in all the LGAs of the state.
"We shall be working with Oyo state government on the N50 billion Healthcare endowment fund for Oyo state and we are very happy to work with a focused administration, officials of government, national and international partners to deliver this innovation.
"This strategic initiative will lay a new financial foundation for health care infrastructural transformation in Oyo state, the pacesetter state in Nigeria, as well as a new pace for socio-economic development by the Ajimobi administration."
There are plans to set up the first iconic cardio-vascular centre in Africa in Ibadan from the Endowment fund which shall be launched August 3, 2017 in Ibadan.
AXA Mansard joined over 200 organisations to race against cancer at the Nigerian Stock Exchange organised Corporate Challenge tagged "e-Race Cancer 2.0" at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, recently.
The NSE Corporate Challenge is an annual 5km race that aims to create awareness on cancer and raise funds for the purchase of 37 Mobile Cancer Centers, valued at $613,000 each.
This year's event attracted participants from listed and non-listed companies alike, as well as NGOs, celebrities and other notable Nigerians.
Group Head, Strategy, Planning and Marketing at AXA Mansard,Mr. Kola Oni, noted that, "AXA Mansard is a strong supporter of initiatives on prevention, detection, and treatment of this disease responsible for the death of millions of people each year.
As a leading insurer, our key expertise lies in understanding and managing risk and our key responsibility is protecting people. This means that we have an essential and active role to play in making sure the ever-evolving risk landscape is brought to the fore and is understood by the society as a whole.
Oni commended the NSE on the initiative and emphasized the need for concerted efforts in the early detection and treatment of cancer.
He also congratulated Suliat Giwa of AXA Mansard Insurance Plc and Naomi Aduku of AXA Mansard Pensions Limited who clinched the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively in the female category, for their active participation in the race and for making the company proud by emerging as the fastest females from the financial services sector.
Pope Francis,Tuesday, expanded the criteria for becoming a saint to include caring for patients with highly infectious diseases, "free offering of one's life" in an apostolic letter published by the Vatican.
An example of such self-sacrifice could be caring for patients with highly infectious diseases.
Previously, people could be named saints in two ways: if they had been martyred for their Christian faith, or had led a particularly holy life and had miracles credited to them.
Vatican media, however, explained that the new category of sainthood has five stipulations.
Pope Francis
In addition to the free and voluntary offering of one's life, and heroic acceptance of a certain and "soon-to-come death, there must be a close relation "between the offering of one's life and the premature death of the one who offers it."
The saintly candidate must have chosen to lead a good Christian life until their death and must have had "the reputation for holiness" before and after dying.
Finally, there must be evidence of a posthumous miracle that could be directly linked to the candidate.
Report says the new category of self-sacrifice does not have to include persecution by non-Christians.
A recent article written by one Mohammed Saleh Gombe with the above caption betrayed the desperation of the writer and his sponsors to the extent that they fatally shot themselves in the foot while embarking on that futile and puerile effort at denigrating the governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, with an inordinate view to vitiate his good works just to further their own selfish political ambition.
The crux of that essay was the directive given by the governor to the police to arrest anyone pasting posters of politicians in any part of the state and prosecute them accordingly, and also the one given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to caution politicians against pasting posters on public buildings in the state.
Seeing the copious merits in the governor's directives to both the police and INEC, one wonders why Saleh would allow himself to be used to attempt to read other needless meanings to an innocuous directive that is meant to keep the state clean, maintain the sanity of the environment and obey the laws of the land which does not allow for such political posters until INEC gives the directives for campaigns to start.
It is only selfish, unpatriotic, lawless, rash and brash politicians like Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga (Sarkin Fulanin Gombe) and his All Progressives Congress (APC) that would deliberately misinterpret the governor's noble intentions just to feather their own nests and use Saleh to project their undesirable stand.
It is quite shameful for anyone to think that the governor's directive that posters of politicians should not be pasted on public buildings is autocratic. Unfortunately, Saleh wrote in his essay with so much indignity that the posters of Kwairanga were pasted in all the "nooks and crannies" of the State, thereby prompting the governor's directive.
If Kwairanga is the kind of man that the opposition party is preparing to field for governorship in Gombe State, then the people of Gombe will have an easier choice to stick perpetually with the PDP because no one would want to associate with a man like Kwairanga who obviously sees nothing wrong in defacing the entire state, desecrate holy places of worship and degrade public buildings and facilities with his posters for an election that is still a whole two years away.
Such actions by the Kwairangas of this world, rather than compliment them, actually expose their destructive tendencies. For if they could be so reckless and unrestrained without power, what would they not do if they mistakenly get even if it is just half of the power wielded by a governor?
It is also very instructive to note that Governor Dankwambo's directive to both the police and INEC was in the overall interest of the state, hence, he did not even exempt himself, his party, political allies and or aspirants from his party from the directive. The directive covers all and sundry without any exception. If the state must be kept clean, then everyone has to be affected by the directive. This is exactly what the governor has done, but unfortunately, APC does not seem to know the meaning of cleanliness, hence, their rant over such a harmless directive.
What the governor did is a rare example of leadership. He could have used his position to restrain the other parties in the state from pasting their posters while he creates an enabling environment for himself, his allies and party to go ahead pasting their own posters. But leaders do not behave like that; statesmen like Dankwambo have shown over time that they have the capacity to take the decisions in the general interest of the state without being influenced by such parochial considerations like party affiliation, ethnic origin and religious beliefs.
Furthermore, like a people under the influence of overdose of fermented rum, APC in the state seems to be over-excited about the defection of few PDP members to its fold. While Saleh in his write up tried to make a big deal of this, the fact is that the trend of politicians decamping from one party to the other has been and will continue to remain with us as long as we practice democracy. In fact, such occurrences are what make democracy interesting, intriguing and engaging.
It is the right of anyone to decamp from one party to another just as many have also decamped from APC to PDP here in Gombe. The trend is nothing new. It is a national phenomenon which, to the chagrin of APC, does not even guarantee electoral victory. In Osun State for example, where the Osun State Senatorial West election was just conducted, the PDP recorded a landslide victory there despite the state having some former members of PDP including political heavyweights that defected to APC.
So, Kwairanga, Saleh and their likes should stop rejoicing over defections that are not only facile but also jejune.
Perhaps the part of Saleh's essay that makes one conclude undoubtedly that he has been sent on an errand of retrogressive venture by his paymasters is the one where he alluded to the fallacy that Dankwambo has impoverished the people. In a desperate attempt to justify this obviously false assertion, Saleh wondered why the governor created schools of journalism, agriculture, accounting and sport when the courses could have been offered by the state-owned university in order to channel the funds used in running those schools to the University.
This again exposes the shallowness in the thought process of APC and their chieftains. While the Gombe State University is receiving its deserved attention from the governor, it is a wise thing to also have those specialized schools run side by side with the university in order to cater for other category of students who for some reasons might not be able to access university education at a particular time.
For example, those who might not meet up with JAMB cut off points for the university can decide to settle for any of the specialized schools rather than sit at home doing nothing for another one, two or even more years waiting for JAMB.
There are those who might just want to spend only about two years to obtain Diplomas or Certificates from the specialized schools in order to work a little to improve their financial standings before they embark on full university education which becomes easier to get with qualifications from the specialized schools.
This system makes higher education more accessible to more indigenes and residents of Gombe, and will always be better than a system where all those seeking higher education in the state would compete for very limited spaces in the university.
Primary and secondary education in the state have greatly improved as well. Gombe remains one of the very few states in this part of our country where almajiris are almost non-existent due to the educational thrust of the Dankwambo administration.
The multi-billion conference centre is another audacious project completed by Dankwambo. One wonders why this gigantic and ultra-modern edifice capable of opening Gombe State more to the rest of the world and earn for her revenues both in foreign and local currencies would be criticized by supposedly right thinking individuals in the name of opposition politics.
The potentials of the centre is not too difficult for anyone to see. By the time it becomes fully functional, corporate organizations, professional bodies, cultural and religious festivals, award ceremonies etc would be held there with its attendant numerous advantages to the state.
The State under Dankwambo is about the only State that its street lights never go off at night as they are powered by generators and solar systems that ensure they remain lit all through the night everyday of the week. Even Abuja cannot boast of such rare feat which has also reduced crime rate drastically in the state.
There are many more to talk about, unfortunately space would not permit us.
However, let Kwairanga and his hatchet men engage the governor on more important things rather than try to distract him with such mundane issues of political posters that should not have been pasted and used to destroy the beauty of the state in the first place. One can only imagine the kind of chaos that would be created if all the over forty political parties in the state decide to be as irresponsible as the APC and their aspirants by pasting political posters so indiscriminately in every nook and cranny of the state!
Dankwambo is a democrat, has always been a democrat, and will always remain a democrat. The people of Gombe stand by him, and they believe in his sense of judgement even as it concerns 2019. He is the one Gombe people will follow!
By Abu Ubaidah Ibrahim Kuna Abu Ubaidah Ibrahim Kuna, P.A Social Media to the Executive Governor of Gombe State writes from Gombe
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – THE Federal Government Tuesday painted a gloomy picture on the expectations of Nigerians as regards the provision of essential infrastructure, payment of workers salary as well as delivery of other services, saying that the annual budgetary provisions available to government was not enough to meet all the required needs of the people.
This is as the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has assured that the government was working round the clock to reposition the economy and that with the determined efforts and focus the challenges could be over in the next twelve months.
Prof. Osinbajo also said government had identified certain critical things that could be done which will improve the economic fortune of the country even as he assured the private sector of a conducive business environment to operate.
Speaking at the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Acting President said despite the challenges, progress was still possible.
The Senator-elect for Osun West Senatorial District, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, has received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
Certificate of Return: From left, INEC Commissioner, Chief Solomon Soyebi presenting Certificate of Return to Senator Elect , Senator Ademola Adeleke at INEC office Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.Certificate of Return: From left, INEC Commissioner, Chief Solomon Soyebi presenting Certificate of Return to Senator Elect , Senator Ademola Adeleke while his wife , Mrs Titilayo Adeleke looks on at INEC office Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.
The Acting president, prof. Yemi Osinbajo travels to Londo to meet with president MUhammadu Buhari. Newsmen gathered this via the acting presidents media aides tweeter handle. According to him AgP will meet with Buhari and come back immediately to Abuja.
AgP Osinbajo meeting with President Buhari in London today, and returning to Abuja immediately afterwards.
The Senator representing Delta Central, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, has stated his opinion on Kanu and Biafra people’s modus operandi in exhibiting their alleged maltreatment and unequally representation to the world, saying that IPOB should have consulted Urhobo people before encrypting them as part of their territory in Biafra map.
Speaking in an interview extracted on facebook, Sen. Ovie stated that anyone who feels marginalised has the right to agitate, so long the country is not a perfect one, everybody should strive to correct those imperfections.
In his words “No one is saying that the Igbo do not have the right to agitate for themselves, I respect their right to self determination, I respect their right to agitate on behalf of there people. But what we will not countenance is for them without consulting the Urhobo people sow moto on their own including Urhobo people as part of their map for the republic of Biafra. We are never part of the republic of Biafra, we are not now and we do not plan to be part of that, he clearly stated”
Former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka has commiserated with victims of the current flooding challenge in the country, especially families of those who lost their lives in the disaster now ravaging some states.
Chdioka, who is presently running for the governorship of Anambra state on the platform of the United Progressive Party (UPP) noted "that it is disheartening to see Nigerians dying, being displaced and their belongings destroyed in the flood, particularly at this trying time in our national life."
Chief Osita Chidoka
In a statement issued to newsmen through his media assistant, Ikechukwu Okafor, the former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) also said that the situation calls for a concerted multi-sectoral approach and stronger synergy among government agencies and corporate concerns, so as to forestall a repeat of the 2012 devastating experience.
He also noted that, though the flood-causing rainfalls are natural phenomena, the adverse effect on lives and property can be extensively mitigated if adequate measures are taken at the right time.
Chief Chidoka therefore called for greater collaborations in areas of monitoring, public education and information sharing; clearing of water channels and drainages, evacuation of persons from flood areas as well as assistance to victims and affected communities.
He finally commended the spirit of brotherly love exhibited by Nigerians towards their neighbours who were affected by the flood as well as the on-going efforts by government agencies in handling the current challenge.
By Joseph Erunke ABUJA – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Tuesday, said it had not determined the cut off marks for 2017 admission into various courses in tertiary institutions. JAMB candidates
It explained that such decision which was only taken at a policy committee meeting with all stakeholders, chaired by the Minister of Education was yet to hold.
This came as it announced commencement of sale of Direct Entry application forms for candidates who have A-level results and wish to gain direct admission to Degree programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The Board has equally commenced the sale of UTME application forms for Nigerians abroad and foreign candidates who desire to attend tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
A statement, in Abuja, by Dr Fabian Benjamin, Head of Media, JAMB, said the process registering the Direct Entry application form was the same applied to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME registration forms.
Here, candidates are expected to create profile and obtain pins where they would proceed for biometric capturing at the CBT centres for registration.
” We urge all candidates wishing to register through direct entry to obtain the pins at Interswitch, Remita or any of the commercial banks approved earlier for the vending of UTME pins,” it advised would-be candidates.
In a related development, JAMB has said it was yet to commence the change of course and institutions.
” We will soon begin and when we do start, the changes will be done in all approved CBT centres nationwide. Candidates need not necessarily come to the Board’s centres for the change.
“It can be done in any of the CBT centres. This is to avoid overcrowding of our offices for services that can be obtained at the utmost comfort by the candidates.
” The delay has been occasioned by the Board’s preparation to ensure that the system is smooth and without encumbrance, “it explained.
It urged the public to” note that every candidate desirous of a change of course or institution will be allowed to do so as the platform will be open until the close of admission.”
“Candidates need not panic or get desperate as it will not be closed as being speculated by those who want to use the opportunity of candidates desperation to defraud them. In view of this, they are not to patronise any fraudulent individuals or organisations but to visit approved CBT centres and never to hesitate in cross checking any information they are not too clear about, “it said.
It advised candidates not to be victims of fraudsters who claim to have the capacity to inflate their scores.
“They do not have such ability and when caught the board will prosecute both the fraudsters and the candidates who patronise them,” it warned.
I recently ran into my ex at a social event and was amazed, I still felt the same about him. We now work in the same office and I overheard him saying he still fancies me too. Do you think I should just forget about what I heard, it's a bit tricky to speak to him as our office is an open one. But, if I let him go again, I'll never forgive myself.
Mulikat by e-mail.
Dear Mulikat,
There is no harm in your letting your ex know you still fancy him. You both obviously want the same tWll$; so, it would be a shame to miss the chance.
But, a note of warning. The lasttfie two of you were together, you didn't make things work. And, unless things ave altered between the two of you, you still won't be able to make things work.
So, think about what caused you to part. Was sex dull? Did you argue?
You can find solutions to these problems by talking things over with your ex when you have the opportunity? A relationship will only work second time round if you change what went wrong first time round.
ABUJA – Nigeria must not borrow more to fund its budget and should instead raise money it needs by other means, the country’s finance minister said on Tuesday, calling into question planned foreign loans of $2 billion from lenders like the World Bank.
Africa’s largest economy is in its first recession in 25 years, and had planned to borrow extensively from overseas to fund a record budget aimed at helping the country spend its way out of its economic doldrums.
But plans for lenders like the World Bank and African Development Bank to loan at least $2 billion to Nigeria have been stalled for over a year as international organisations’ frustrations mounted at the country’s refusal to impose key fiscal reforms such as allowing its foreign exchange rate to float freely.
Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun’s comments, made while speaking at a business forum in the capital of Abuja, suggest that Nigeria will no longer seek such loans, or an additional $1.5 billion it had planned to raise from international debt markets.
“We cannot borrow anymore, we just have to generate funds domestically enough to fund our budget. Mobilize revenue to fund the necessary budget increase,” she said.
In May, the head of Nigeria’s budget office said the country has a shortfall of $7.5 billion for its 2017 budget expenditure, and said that would be addressed with $3.5 billion from the aforementioned loans and debt.
The government also planned to raise $4 billion from the local debt market, he said at the time.
Nigeria’s presidency signed off on its record 7.44 trillion naira ($24.39 billion) budget for 2017 in June, after numerous delays.
The plan projects a deficit of 2.21 trillion naira, implying a deficit equivalent to 2.18 percent of Nigerian gross domestic product. ($1 = 305.0000 naira)
United States government has pledged unalloyed support for the digital transformation of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry.
Following this development, the Foreign Commercial Service of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, in collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Nigeria and its leading local partner, Manifold Computers, have introduced an innovative technology Synergy and Aruba for use in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the public presentation of the technology product, United States Consul General F. John Bray who renewed the US government's commitment to supporting trade and investment in Nigeria, encouraged Nigerian oil and gas industry players to avail themselves of the innovative technology with a view to harnessing Nigeria's abundant resources, improving their bottom-line and ultimately growing the economy.
He said that "Nigeria presents tremendous long-term growth opportunities and the United States government remains committed to supporting American companies and local partners in deploying US technology to help tackle some of the challenges the country is facing,"
The event which was attended by leading oil and gas industry players, technology service providers, and senior government officials, explained Synergy and Aruba as a technology that helps companies operating in the Nigerian oil and gas industry to increase the efficiency of operations, monitor people, manage resources, make real-time decisions, reduce risks, save costs, and increase flexibility, productivity and company bottom line.
Also, lending a voice, Acting Commercial Counselor of the US Mission, Mr. Paul Bergman, highlighted Hewlett Packard Enterprise's long term partnership with the American Commercial Service.
According to him, the US Commercial Service will continue to be at the fore-front of promoting trade and investment between America and Nigeria through the development and execution of mutually beneficial international trade policies and promotion strategies.
Similarly, Country Managing Director, HPE Nigeria, Mr. Chukwuma Okpaka, said that, “The high performance computing technology solution meets the modern exigencies of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. Modeling and simulation applications” , noting it will accelerate breakthroughs in oil and gas, science, medicine, technology, and energy sectors.
I'm in my late 60 and 1ost my husband two years ago. I haven't had sex since his death and I miss having orgasms. I'm now toying with the idea of using a dildo; I have even visited a few sex shops abroad just to have a look. Do you think I'm a bit too old for this sort of thing? I wouldn't want to do myself any physical damage.
Philo, by e-mail.
Dear Philo,
You're absolutely not too old for this sort of thing! As for doing yourself any harm – the opposite is the case. A dildo will massage your vagina keeping you healthy 'down there'plus, having orgasms will help you stay fit. So,just do it!
As you haven't had sex for a while, you may need to take things slowly and gently – like any muscle, your vagina can suffer from lack of use. And, if you feel a bit dry, add in some lubrication – you can use your own saliva, a specially- designed lubricant from a chemist, or any unperformed body oil.
Five years ago, my husband lost his job and his drinking spiralled out of control. He's always been a heavy drinker but now he starts as early as 11 :OOam and carries on all day and into the night. I've been asking him to cut down for years, but things came to a head when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis six months ago. He continued to drink and I was forced to leave and relocate to my family's house with the children. I know I'm better off without him, but I still love him and I want him in my life. He feels the same way about me. Is there any way we can make our marriage work?
Dorothy, by e-mail.
Dear Dorothy,
It is possible for a marriage to survive alcoholism, but it will take a lot of hard work. It is not enough for your husband just to make promises – he has to admit he has a problem and seek professional help – on top of which he needs to either look for a job or learn a trade that would enable him care for his family.
You can support him from a distance. Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease and you need the support of loved ones around you. Don't go back to him until he can show you he means what he says.
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