Across The Nation
Quality Leadership: Ijaw Youth
Leader Commends IYC Exco By DANIEL EDOBOR BENIN CITY – The leader of Ijaw Youths in Edo State, Comrade Andrew Igiri has commended the leadership quality of the President of Ijaw Youth Council Comrade Udengs Eradiri and his Executive Comrade in piloting the council towards achieving the set goals of the Council in the Niger Delta Region. Comrade Igiri made this commendation in Benin City
recently in an interview with newsmen. He noted that since the coming on Board of Comrade Udeng and his executive, they have been able to bring a sense of belonging to every Ijaw person in the region, stressing that the three council that made up the Ijaw Youth Council are now becoming waxing stronger and having a sense of oneness in all their activities in the area. Comrade Igiri urged the
Customs Destroys N12m Poultry Products By IJEOMA UMEH
BENIN CITY - The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ Owerri, Imo State has destroyed 1,252 cartons of imported frozen turkey and chicken with duty paid value of N12,019,200. The items were seized by men and officers of the command on Friday last week at the Benin Ekiadolor Road at
about 1205hours, the command stated. According to the command, the items were being conveyed in a truck with registration number AUC 408 XC. The destruction, which was witnessed by officers of several security agencies of government at the Customs House, Benin City, it was gathered, was in line with federal government policies on imported frozen products (turkey and chicken).
President of the council not to rest in their bid to represent the Niger Delta Region, stressing that the task ahead of them is enormous. He added that the Ijaw Youths in Edo State are strongly behind them as there is the need for a lot of issues to be addressed across the Niger Delta Region which he said, include unemployment and underdevelopment. Others include embezzlement of public funds, imposition of local government chairmen in the Niger Delta Region which he said must stop in other that the people’s appoint those who will have their feelings at heart and the fear of God.
Scavengers at a refuse dump at Orile Iganmu recently.
Itulah Donates To Physically Challenged Persons By TUNDE EIGBIREMOLEN
UROMI – Succour came the way of about 250 physically challenged persons on Thursday, January 2, 2014 at Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North East
A tricycle operator taking a nap at Suru Alaba Motor Park in Lagos recently.
Local Government Area of Edo State when Rt. Hon. Friday Obomezele Itulah, (JP), member, representing Esan North East/South-East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja donated several items and cash to those living with various degrees of disability inorder to empower them in business. The items included 250 units of grinding machines, 250 Electricity Generating sets and over 300 buckets worth millions of naira. The empowerment programme, which was part of activities to mark Rt. Hon. Itulah’s regular Xmas/New Year get-together with his constituents, was however preceded by a mass officiated by the Catholic administrator of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Uromi. Giving his address at the wellattended ceremony, Rt. Hon. Itulah remarked: “The idea to hold this party has been on for sometime, because I have always loved the idea of felicitating with physically challenged persons which is quite noble. For as the Bible enjoins us, we should strive, to identify with those persons who
Edebiri Family Fetes Children By MATTHEW OKAGHA
BENIN CITY – Children have been described as direct gifts from God that should be celebrated by both their immediate families and the larger society. Mrs. Vivian Edebiri wife of Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri made the assertion while speaking at the 2014 New Year children’s party organised by the Edebiri family in Benin City last Thursday. Mrs. Edebiri stated that
the children’s New Year Party was put together to celebrate them in an atmosphere of love, joy and merriment, adding that it was part of the contribution of the Edebiri family in putting smile on the faces of the children during the festive season. The called on parents and governments at all levels to provide the young ones with qualitative education which would enable them to grow into responsible citizens.
Mrs. Vivian Edebiri said that though children are direct gifts from God, couple who were yet to have children of their own, should see other children in the society as their children, adding that there was nothing wrong in adopting a children. She also advised children to cultivate the spirit of obedience, hardwork and respect for constituted authority, pointing out that such attributes would enable them become responsive and
responsible citizens in the future. Also speaking, Mrs. Stacy Ikponmwosa Edebiri described the Edebiri family as great lovers of children. Mrs. Stacy Ikponmwosa Edebiri thanked God for making it possible for the Edebiri family to host the children and make them happy at a time like this. The children’s party featured dancing competitions and presentation of gifts.
will not be able to pay us for what we have done, so that Heaven will reward us.” The former speaker, Edo State House of Assembly did not also spare the opportunity to thank the people of Esan North East/ South-East Federal Constituency for the sustained support given to him over the years to represent them at different levels including the Federal House of Representative, even as he sued for more of such support, and promised to always give qualitative and responsive representation at any level. He restated his preparedness to always cater for the less privileged and physically challenged persons in society, stressing, “during my electioneering, I did promise to be for everybody irrespective of physical status. It is in this direction, that I co-sponsored a Bill for an Act to provide free and compulsory education for the physically challenged
persons in Nigeria. I am also putting together another Bill that will make it mandatory for public buildings to be provided with access for the physically challenged persons as obtains in all developed societies.” Highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of the items to the beneficiaries by Rt. Hon. Friday Itulah who was ably assisted by political leaders, Associates, friends and supporters from home and in diaspora, including those from Ukraine, United States of America, United Kingdom among others. Responding, the beneficiaries who could not hide their joy profusely thanked Hon. Itulah for his kind gesture and promised to put the items to profitable use. The officiating priests, political leaders also expressed gratitude to Rt. Hon. Itulah for the donation and urged other political office holders and representatives of the people to emulate Itulah.
Commercial Motorists Seek Extension Of Registration Deadline LAGOS - Commercial motorists in Lagos has appealed to the Lagos State Government to extend the December 31, 2013-deadline fixed for the new registration of commercial vehicle operations. Reports say that Lagos State Ministry of Transportation commenced the new registration of commercial vehicles on November 1, 2013 and the exercise was expected to end on December 31, 2013. The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, said at a recent meeting with transport service providers that the new vehicles’ registration was for purely security reasons. He said that the measure was adopted to address some security issues, including
kidnapping, which were always linked to commercial vehicles in the state. Opeifa vowed that no unlicensed commercial vehicle would be allowed to operate in the state as from Jan. 1. 2014. However, a newsmen survey revealed that many of commercial motorists had yet to comply with the new registration order. Mr Odunayo Daniel, a commercial driver who operates in the Oshodi-Iyana Ipaja axis, described the registration as a welcome development but stressed that the time allotted for it was insufficient. “There is nothing bad with the new registration, considering the motive behind it; the only problem is that the time for it is too short.