Daily Archives: Mar 1, 2013

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia, Chief Goodluck Njoku, has scored Gov. Theodore Orji high on road rehabilitation, particularly in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

Njoku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Friday that the residents of the city were now experiencing a new lease of life as a result of the governor’s giant strides in giving the roads in the city a facelift.

``Aba now looks like a huge construction site with work going everywhere. The governor has kept his promise to rehabilitate the roads in Aba.

``The Obikabia road leading to Mgboko, headquarters of Obingwa Local Government Area has been completed.

``The Aba-Ikot Ekpene, and Ehere roads are now wearing new look. I score the governor high because he is tackling the basic problems facing Aba,” he said.

The PDP chieftain described security and good road network as the `pivot’ on which economic activities revolved.

He said that if the Federal Government could fulfil its promise of stable power in Aba, the city would witness a boom in industries and small scale business.

``I am appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfil his promise of partnering with the governor to change the face of Aba as he said during his election campaign in 2011.

``Since the governor has restored security, if the Federal Government can ensure stable power, unemployment will be reduced and Aba will regain its lost glory,’’ he said.

Njoku urged the residents of the city to support the governor's efforts to clean up Aba by ensuring that they do not drop refuse in drainages. (NAN)

The Oyo State Command of the  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)  has recovered the corpse of a suspected  vandal from a petrol storage well at Amosun Village in  Akinyele Local Government Area of the state. The NSCDC ...

The Nasarawa State Government will settle hospital bills of students receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the Feb. 25 students protest in the state, Dep.-Gov. Dameshi Luka has said. Luka said this on Friday in Keffi when he paid ...

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Friday commended journalists  for their  role  in entrenching democracy in the country.

Ajimobi  made the commendation  while declaring open the 2013 National Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Ibadan.

The governor, however, said that online journalism posed a threat and challenge to mainstream  journalism.

The governor said this was because the profession had been infiltrated by non-professionals who malign the reputation of people.

Ajimobi urged the NGE and other journalists in the country to convene a Media Reform Conference to find solutions to the challenges facing the Nigerian  media.

In his valedictory speech, the outgoing President of  the NGE, Mr Gbenga Adefaye,  said his administration performed excellently in building the capacity of editors through training.

Adefaye said his executive successfully refocused editors on national issues through different annual conferences between 2009  and 2012.

He said that the proceedings of the annual conferences had been compiled into a book.

``The material achievements are okay. But what I consider our greatest achievement was the fierce defence of press freedom and expansion of the frontiers of free speech which in my view is the number one mandate of the Guild,'' he added.

Adefaye said the media successfully halted the passage of  the Nigerian Press and Journalism Council Bill ``  through a very innovative approach of lobbying.''

He also said the NGE  took the lead in getting the sixth National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill which President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law.

In his report, the General Secretary of NGE, Mr Isaac Ighure, recalled the activities of the secretariat in the last four years.

He said the secretariat had gone a long way in improving ICT facilities and ensuring  that it was able to reach editors operating even in areas considered remote in the country.

``It is gladdening that we have been able to achieve that goal with the provision of a new HP computer by the secretariat to reach a lot more editors anytime.

``Regrettably, however, we have yet to attain the zenith of our ambition to reach every editor in the land at the touch of a key on the computer,’’ Ighure said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Ray Ekpu, described  journalism as a difficult profession.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday said it had arrested major drug peddlers and seized 692.341 kg of cannabis sativa in Kaduna. The State Commandant of NDLEA, Mohammed Jibrin stated this when he led other members of the age...

Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State on Friday advised banks to seek for partnership with his administration rather than cash deposits in the course of developing the state. Yero gave this advice when the Chairman, Board of Directors of Mainstreet Bank, A...

The leadership of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has announced the expulsion of Sen. Rufai Hanga, Engr. Badmus Mutalif, Abduwaheed Adeleke and Chief Dennis Aghanya. The quartet were expelled for instituting a court action against the party w...

Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), yesterday, expressed displeasure with the National Chairman of the  People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur for  endorsing the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015. The northern yout...