₦airaland Forum

JikoSnazzy: Dat guy is ugly from child hood,see his kanda mouf
now him be d badest men[img][/img]

masterpiecer: She looks funny, big head with a tiny frame, funny hair do.

logo77: Our leaders !

They like putting the cart b-4 the horse......Always.

He should have thought of this before sacking the okada riders off the road. :

They like putting the cart b-4 the horse.

He should have thought of this before sacking the okada riders off the road.

The Presidency has banned ministers and heads of parastatals from using mobile phones during meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also, the government has issued an alert on increasing robbers’ attacks on Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Lagos.

The ban on ministers and other top government officials from making calls, was as a result of rampant cases of phone calls and texting at official meetings, including during the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

It was gathered that the mobile phone indulgence has caused distractions at sensitive meetings.

Findings revealed that some ministers and top government officials hide under the guise of seeking clarifications on issues or emergency challenges to use mobile phones at meetings.

The presidency has told the ministers to stop the habit through a circular signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadome.

The circular has been sent to all ministers and chief executives of government agencies.

The circular reads: “Following the observation of some individuals using their mobile phones whilst Mr. President presides over meetings, it has become necessary to state that the use of mobile phones in meetings being attended by Mr. President is now prohibited.

“Please ensure phones are either left with security personnel in the relevant meeting room or switched off.

“Henceforth, responding to calls or texting or having a phone interrupt proceedings at a meeting will not be tolerated.”

A source in government said: “The ban became necessary because some ministers have been losing focus at meetings because of phone calls and text messaging. This development has affected the quality of outcome of important meetings. It is even a slight to pick calls when the President is presiding over any meeting.

“In line with our transformation agenda, there is no way we can allow this trend to continue. Some ministers are already under watch over this improper conduct.”

In another development, the presidency has sent a security alert to Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Caleb Olubolade, on how armed robbers are targeting ATMs, hotels and drinking spots since the cashless policy was introduced in Lagos .

The alert was contained in a circular signed for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by A.G. Ibrahim.

The directive reads: “I am directed to inform you of a report which reveals that armed robbers in Lagos have resorted to attacking Automated Teller Machines and their users following the implementation of cashless economy.

“According to the report, armed robbers hover around banks and hotels with ATM and trail customers to unsuspected areas to attack while others attack ATM in less secured environment.

“The development suggests that criminal elements may be devising a new strategy to perpetrate their nefarious activities following introduction of cashless economy.

“The need for security managers to evolve measures to protect the ATM and their users is therefore advised. It is also important to collaborate with media managers to sensitise the public on necessary safety measures. The foregoing is forwarded for your information.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has urged the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to urgently design a new business plan that would engage commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders who were recently restricted from plying 475 roads in the state.

Fashola made the appeal at the weekend at celebration of the 2012 Lagos State day and the closing ceremony of the 2012 Lagos State Trade Fair and Exhibition held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, (TBS), Lagos.

Fashola said that this is the only way the chamber can partner with the state government on the new road traffic law signed into law on August 2nd in the state.

According to the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, “The reason why we seek the partnership of LCCI is that the present administration in Lagos State knows the importance of the chamber as the umbrella body for business in the country, especially Lagos state.”

“And because of this, LCCI is one body that is in a better position to help the state government in developing a sustainable business plan that would accommodate all the okada operators who by virtue of the new law may not be able to engage in the business again.

“We need a sustainable business plan for these residents of the state. This is because okada is not a sustainable means of transportation for any state, especially Lagos State, which has a megacity status.”

“Before the restriction of okada in the state, the number of orphans, widows and widowers was increasing daily, and hospitals in the state were being congested with victims of okada accidents.

The governor emphasised that since the restriction, the state has recorded a drastic reduction in the number of accidents and crime across the state.

“The state government is ready to partner with the chamber to come up with the right business strategy plan for these operators,” he added that the state government’s doors are always open for the plan from the LCCI.

Fashola assured residents of the state that the government will always be responsive government that would ensure that a new business strategy is designed for them.

On the choice of the venue, the governor assured business operators that after the completion of the ongoing Lekki Free Trade Zone, the state would be moving every trade fair and exhibition to that axis of the state, saying “It would serve as a permanent site for trade fair and exhibition in the state for both local and international business organisation.”

A new twist is about to unfold on the death of the late Eze Ndigbo, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as the National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and close confidant of ex Biafran warlord, Chief Victor Umeh has vowed to throw a bombshell on what he knows about his death.

Umeh said this while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Enugu over a recent claim that himself and Governor Rochas Okorocha shunned a peace meeting held recently in Awka, and blamed both Governor Obi and Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu for the problem in APGA.

The party chieftain who described the claims as an attempt to soil his name and that of Owelle claimed that the late Igbo leader died as a result of heart attack from some quarters.

He has avowed to expose everything he knows about Ojukwu’s illness and death once the one year remembrance of Ojukwu was done on November 26.

“Let November 26 come and go and I will expose all of their activities as they claim to be upholding the ideals of Ojukwu. “The way things are going, very soon I will start granting interviews again to put things in proper perspective both for Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Governor Peter Obi, Dr. Tim Menakaya; all of them that are destroying this party now; I will come back to the public with their activities; with details one after the other so that people will know what they are doing; It’s time for me to expose everybody now; that time has come. “I take no blame for what is happening; if there is any reconciliatory meeting, any meeting where the progress of APGA will be discussed, that meeting should be properly convened; people should be properly invited and notified, I will be the first person to be there. “Because one after the other, I will look into their faces and tell them what they have been doing, which I have refused to tell the public. On the meeting, which he was reported to have shunned, the APGA boss said he was surprised to read that a text message was sent notifying him of the meeting:

“[b]I wish to state unequivocally that nobody sent me any text inviting me to any meeting at Awka for the purpose of pursuing reconciliation in APGA. Umeh who said he travelled to London on the November 2 to attend the convention of the United Kingdom’s chapter of APGA and for the celebration of Ojukwu’s birthday in Oxford said there was no indication of such a meeting anywhere before he travelled. “I was therefore shocked when I returned to read that I shunned an invitation for reconciliation; nothing can be further from the truth.

“I investigated into this and was told that when I traveled, Governor Peter Obi on November 3 sent text messages inviting people to a stakeholders meeting at Awka on Tuesday November 6; I was also shown a text message sent to Governor Obi by Chief Chris Ejike Uche the APGA Deputy National Chairman, South, informing him that he should shift the meeting to Tuesday November 13, 2012 because, both myself and Governor Okorocha had travelled to London and would come back on the 8th of November; he went further to say that the meeting was sudden and there was need for both myself and the Imo State governor to be in attendance[/b]”

okosodo: Aboki no dey fail

Henry Pender is a graduate of Political Science from the University of Ibadan. Pender graduated in 2000 and has worked as a banker, yet he is among the about 100 graduates undergoing training to become truck drivers; or rather logistics assistants. Pender is also the class governor of this first batch of trainees.

“After my service, I had the privilege of being retained at the Rivers State Primary Education Board where I did my primary assignment. I was with them for about a year before I joined the All States Trust Bank, which is now defunct. I worked with them for three years before I joined the Ecobank, from there I moved to the Oceanic Bank before joining Ecobank again after the acquisition of Oceanic Bank by Ecobank.

“I had to leave the banking industry when I married my colleague, because the human resource policy then did not allow spouses to work in the same office. I felt that my wife should stay behind while I as a man would look around for something to do. It wasn’t easy, because the job was not forthcoming as I thought. I attended a couple of interviews at different places, but I didn’t get what I was looking for.

“When this opportunity of becoming truck driver with Dangote presented itself, I applied with open mind. I felt that this is an opportunity for a new beginning to move into a new paradigm that is not explored. We have just begun the journey in the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT). I was pleasantly surprised when I came here to see people from different backgrounds and professions.

“We are all getting along very well. I am looking forward for an experience that would improve our larger society. Dangote has put something in place that would turn out to be a revolution in the transport industry in this country. I think this programme would eventually become a model that all organisations of international standard would adopt in no distance future.

“From personal point of view, I like driving. I have driven a lot since when I became a professional driver and I like travelling. But by coming here, I have been exposed to the academic side of driving. I feel that whatever I do as a graduate, there should be a level of expected difference from what a layman would do. I think the objective of employing graduates as drivers is for sanity to be restored on our highways. Most of us are victims of the recklessness of heavy truck drivers and this is what this initiative wants to address. We are being trained here to become complete gentlemen as drivers,” Pender said.

He explained that he has, essentially, decided to join the truck driving profession out of interest not for material reward.

“As at the time we had our interview, there was no mention of any material reward. It is now that we are hearing that after a successful driving for a certain period, or covering of certain mileage that one would own a truck or things like that. No such thing was mentioned; there was no mention of special incentives rather than we would be employed and paid salaries.

“What I would say lured me into joining the truck driving profession is the name Dangote that is known locally and internationally. I bet you that if it were some other companies that came up with this initiative, some of us may not be here but the mention of the name Dangote, one would know that there is quality; there is a personality behind it; there is international recognition; that is what lured most of us here beyond any other material gain.

“We only discovered the entrepreneurial incentive of this programme when we came here; when most of us have completed their registration. Being somebody who had the experience of the banking sector, I would quickly join Dangote, because I know I would have job security and we are enjoying ourselves here in the NITT as the pioneer batch of this training programme. I never knew there is an institute like the NITT in Nigeria. We are grateful to them for the knowledge they are impacting in us.

“I want to also use this medium to urge the youth of Nigeria to work hard. We have to make names for ourselves by working hard as it is not all of us who are children of the privileged, therefore we are here as part of our dignity of labour. I would rather stay here and do this work than apply for visa to go abroad and face all kinds of humiliation by washing toilets or driving taxi while I have a similar option here, which I would do with dignity and leave a good example for the upcoming ones,” Pender explained.