Police Nab Three Teenage Stowaways At Lagos Airport

The Airport Command of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested three teenagers for allegedly attempting to illegally board some international flights in Lagos. Commissioner of Police for the command, Salahu Waheed, said the suspects, Lateef Popoola, 13; Amadi Joshua, 14; and Ukpabio Onyedikachi, 14, were arrested at different times at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja. Waheed, while handing over the suspects to their mothers, said there was a need for their respective state governments to rehabilitate them like the Edo State Government did with teenage stowaway, Daniel Ihekina, who was arrested on August 24, 2013 after sneaking into the tyre compartment of a Lagos-bound Arik plane. He said, “These boys were found at different times at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Their aim was to get into any plane and travel out of Nigeria. “I decided to hand them over to their parents so they will be well taken care of and stop dwelling on the fantasy that you can just come into the airport, enter a plane and travel.n“Their state governments should try to rehabilitate them just like Edo State did for the stowaway in Benin. “Lateef Popoola is from Ogun State; Amadi Joshua is from Ebonyi while Ukpabio Onyedikachi is from Abia State. “The airport is not a place that you can just come into and travel. There are formalities. We don’t want to see these children here again. ”The teenagers, who spoke to PUNCH Metro, said they had been nursing the idea of travelling abroad, adding that they were not ready to execute their plans yet. Lateef said he went to the tarmac to observe how aeroplanes take off and land. He said he was able to gain access to the runaway by sneaking into an airport apron bus, but was arrested shortly after alighting. He said, “I am not in school, I dropped out in Primary three. I was arrested last week Wednesday. I actually wanted to travel but I have yet to decided where I will go. So, I just went to the tarmac to see the aeroplanes.” Lateef’s grandmother, Adunni, said she had no idea that her grandson was nursing the idea of travelling out of the country. She said she had been responsible for his upkeep  since his mother abandoned him at infancy. “I did not know that he wanted to travel. I just did not  see him last week and I started looking for him all over the place. It was on Saturday that I finally found out that he had been arrested,” she said. Onyedikachi and Joshua were said to have been arrested after asking some security agents where Malaysia flights were boarding. After being questioned, the boys, who were both in SS1, said they had no travel documents and were immediately arrested. Police said Onyedikachi’s brother was in Malaysia and it was possible that the teenager wanted to travel out to see his brother. Onyedikachi, however said, “We were at the departure area of the airport. We did not attempt to travel out. We were just loitering and wanted to see the aeroplanes. We did not want to travel out on that day.” Onyedikachi’s mother berated her son for his escapade. She said she had warned him and Joshua to be well behaved at all times.She said, “I had no knowledge of what they did. Onyedikachi is well taken care of and is not suffering. I don’t know what pushed him to do this.”

Market Woman Shot During Protest

A 60-year-old woman, Mrs. Comfort John, was shot in the thigh by riot policemen, during a protest by market women over the demolition of Afaha Offot Market in Akwa Ibom State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the policemen had stormed the market to disperse the protesters, who were demonstrating against the Uyo Capital City Development Authority, when John was shot.

It was learnt that John, who had a stall in the market, was coming back from Itam Market on Friday where she had gone to purchase goods.

One of her daughters, Miss Patricia John, told our correspondent that as soon as her mother stepped into her shop, the protesting women were seen running in every direction as riot policemen fired gunshots and teargas canisters at them.

She said, “One of the bullets hit my mum on the thigh. The riot policemen, who shot her fled. If not for the Divisional Police Officer, ‘C’ Division, Mr. Mike Esu, who helped me to take my mum to University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, my mum would have died just for nothing.”

The village head of Afaha Offot, Mr. David Etuk, who condemned the attack, said he did not understand the rationale behind the demolition of Afaha Offot Market by UCCDA.

He said the inhabitants of the area had been operating at the market for over 100 years, adding that it was difficult to explain what prompted the UCCDA to embark on the demolition of the market without any prior notice.

He said, “The UCCDA has never come to Afaha Offot Market to mark the place for demolition. There was no previous warning whatsoever. What we noticed on that fateful Friday was the demolition exercise being carried out by UCCDA.

“Our women have been selling in this market for over 100 years. If they feel the place should no longer be used by market women, let them provide an alternative place for them.

“We are going to write a protest letter to the government over the decision of the UCCDA  to demolish the only market we have.”

President of the Afaha Offot Market, Mrs. Anna Robert, said the goods the authority destroyed were worth N200m. She added that since that day, the women had been staying at home with no money to feed their families.

She stated that some of the women selling in the markets were widows and that they used the proceeds from sales in the market  to fend for their families.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, said the police did not shoot anybody.

He said that the story was false and that the police were ready to defend it.

He said, “We were monitoring the demolishing team. After the University of Uyo incident, no policeman has shot anybody. The police did not even go there with baton.

“They were all there in their vehicles. What they did was to throw teargas to disperse the shop owners. The accusation is wrong.”

All attempts to reach the chairman, UCCDA, Mr. Ignatius Edet, proved abortive as he did not respond to his calls or text messages sent to his telephone.

@53:Nigeria's Problems Surmountable-Leaders

FIFTY three  years after independence, Nigerian leaders were unanimous, yesterday, that the challenges facing the country are resolveable and there is need to cement the country’s unity. They also agreed that there is need for a national conference for the people to dialogue and agree on the terms to boost the country’s unity and address her plethora of problems.

We’ve made progress –Mark

Senate President David Mark assessed the progress of Nigeria since the journey of its independence in 1960 and concluded that the country had fared well enough to deserve commendation.

Senate President, David Mark

In a goodwill message by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, the Senate President said: “We are yet to get to the level of our dreams, nobody can deny the fact that we have recorded some landmark achievements since the colonial masters left our shores.

”Besides the infrastructural developments across the country, we now have skilled and qualified manpower in virtually all fields of human endeavour.”

He therefore, implored Nigerians to renew hope and faith in the “capacity and capabilities of our people to rise to a level where citizens could enjoy an internationally acceptable standard of living, thus earning the status of a developed nation.”

Our challenges are surmountable — Tambuwal

House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, said though Nigeria was passing through tough times, the challenges confronting the nation were surmountable.

He said as the country celebrates its 53rd independence anniversary, all hands must be on deck to foster unity, peace and reconciliation.

*Tambuwal

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said all Nigerians must work tirelessly to promote the tenets of democracy, good governance and responsible citizenry.

He appealed to the political elite to moderate their utterances and be mindful of their responsibility to the country.

We’re yet to have Nigeria of our dream — Mbazulike

Pre-Independence and First Republic politician and elder statesman, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, who also fought for Nigeria’s independence, lamented that we are yet to have Nigeria of his dream.

Asked how he sees Nigeria 53 years after independence, he said: “Of all the nationalists and ministers from Southern Nigeria, East or West, I’m the last person left. I’m the only one alive. What I have to say is that this is not the Nigeria we fought for, it’s not the Nigeria that many of us died for, it’s not the Nigeria many of our youths want to be with, it’s not the Nigeria that our founding fathers like Azikwe, Awolowo, Okotie-Eboh and others dreamt of.

No, you see the military damaged everything. They stayed too long. For 38 years the military ruled this country. They disrupted everything. Even the people who are leaders in this so-called democratic dispensation are working in the footsteps of the military. ”

He canvassed a national conference for the people of Nigeria to give themselves an acceptable constitution.

We can make Nigeria great —Amosun

Gov Ibikunle Amosun

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, congratulating Nigerians on the celebration called on citizens to keep hope alive and live in peace with one another so that the country could overcome its challenges.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Senator Amosun said: “The nation has reasons to appreciate God in spite of the current challenges.”

Nigeria’s overcoming her challenges —Ekweremadu

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said that though the country had missed some opportunities and is faced with many challenges, it is also overcoming the challenges.

Ike Ekweremadu

He said: “I call on all Nigerians to join the present crusade to reinvent and transform Nigeria; and in this wise, I urge hope, courage, perseverance, prayers, reconciliation, peaceful-coexistence, and patriotic fervour to build the Nigeria of our dreams as no one else would do that for us.”

Nothing to celebrate –Ankio Briggs

Rights activist, Ms Ankio Briggs, said there is nothing to celebrate at 53. She, however, said there was basis for Nigeria’s unity if the people could be allowed to dialogue.

“We have basis for Nigeria’s unity in the sense that it’s our choice. It should be our choice and it will be our choice because that’s why we have these discussions going on now. I believe Nigeria can be a great country and that Nigerians can live together. Nobody is saying we shouldn’t live together. We are saying how? Who brings what? Who owns what? Who controls what? How much should I bring? How much should you bring? How much of your own should you keep? What if we keep everything and pay something to the centre? These are the things we need to look at together,” she said.

Military not the cause of our woes –Dan Suleiman

Former member of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and former ambassador to Russia, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd) said there is no alternative to unity and urged those blaming the military for stunting Nigeria’s growth to have a rethink. He said a national conference will help Nigerians discover their mistakes and correct them.

Commenting on claims that the military destroyed the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy, he said: “Does it mean that democracy is the answer to our many problems? If so, why are we having these ills today? Are we having a military regime? Are we having military governance? But yet, we are still having these ills. So, it will be wrong to put the blames only on the military.

The people who are looking for scapegoats are putting the blames only on the military. The military did their best. Most of the infrastructure standing in this country today were put in place during the military days. What the government of today should do is to improve on them.”

To cement Nigeria’s unity, he said a national conference is necessary because it is an avenue “where Nigerians from all sectors of life can come out to work out how we should live together. If we are saying that the amalgamation was a mistake, then, only a conference can spot out these mistakes and correct it to produce a Nigeria that will favour all of us.”

We need true democracy, national cohesion –Gov Amaechi

In like manner, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, urged national cohesion and true democracy.

Amaechi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, said: “No democracy can grow in the face of unending conflicts and in the midst of impunity.

Amaechi

Nigeria is one country in spite of our varying cultures, religion and ethnic nationalities and we can only succeed as a nation if we stand united. As we mark this year’s Independence Day, let us all reflect on the dynamics of true democracy and work towards improving our national life,” he urged

Nigerians must make sure that the Presidency of this country reflects federal character. We have six geo-political zones. Every geo-political zone can produce a president.

I don’t see why Nigerians can’t be bold enough to put rotation of the presidency in the constitution among the six geo political zones. There is need for a conference that will reduce acrimony and rancour that characterise the polity. Nigerians must work it out. This is very important because every part of this country needs to have a sense of belonging.”

Nigeria still battling with teething problems – Onyema

To chairman of the Federation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) and facilitator of the amnesty programme for former Niger Delta militants, Mr. Allen Onyema, Nigeria had come a long way but it is sad that it is still battling teething problems at 53.

His words:  “We have come a long way, but one is not totally happy. There are signs of danger looming. Certain things are not done properly. At 53, Nigeria has attained serious adulthood yet, it’s still grasping with issues that should have been addressed some 30 years ago. Some of the issues that the present administration is addressing today are issues that should have been addressed some 30 years ago.

So, you can trace our problems not just to bad governance over the years, but to the attitude of the governed themselves. It’s nothing to write home about. May be, the attitude of the military regime did a lot havoc to this country. That is why at all times democracy is better than the best military regime.

“Most of the problems this government is trying to tackle today are things that should have been done years back. For example: airports. Nobody will believe that a country like Nigeria will be running the kind of poultry farms we regard as airports.

They looked like poultry farms before this regime came in. Our railways for the past 30 years have never been attended to. It’s being done now. Institutions were not allowed to grow. Instead, what we had were powerful individuals as presidents or heads of state. And no country makes progress anywhere in the world where we have powerful individuals with weaker institutions. So, this is part of the impediment to the growth and development of this country.”

Nigeria won’t break-up –Ndoma-Egba

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, urged Nigerians to shun acts that could dismember the country and countered comments that the amalgamation of the country was a forced marriage.

*Ndoma Egba

Asked how far we have we fared as a united nation and whether the country should continue to be one, he said: “It could be a nightmare for Nigeria breaking up. I personally have strong faith in the unity of Nigeria, that our unity is invaluable.

That unity cannot be violated, so I believe that all these prophecies by doomsday prophets that Nigeria will break up will fail. It is not the first time we are hearing all those prophecies, it has always been there. Nigeria survived a very brutal civil war, so I don’t see any fundamental issues that will lead to the disintegration of Nigeria in spite of the wishes of the doomsday prophets. Nigeria will remain one strong and united country.”

We must not compromise our unity –Mimiko

On his part, Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko said all hands should be on deck to ensure that the nation’s unity is not compromised.

In his congratulatory message to Nigerians, he said the nation’s unity is her strength and that everything should be done to safeguard it.

In the statement, signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, the governor asked Nigerians not to despair about the current state of the nation, but be optimistic because there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
We deserved more than we’ve achieved –CAN

Rejoicing with Nigerians on Independence Day, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), however, said that as leader of the African continent, Nigeria deserved more than she has attained so far.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

In a statement by its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, CAN said Nigeria was yet to achieve the desired standard of conduct and performance envisaged by her founding fathers and expressed a strong hope that development would come as soon as all the challenges inhibiting her progress were surmounted.

“We must keep hope alive. We are still together and would be together. There has been modest improvement and development. It could be better. But the atmosphere is not encouraging enough to hold those administering the country accountable, talking about the security challenges. We must all return to the path of sanity to be able to develop.

“We must return to the days of the earliest stage of Nigeria’s evolution by shunning stances that pose as challenges to our development, imbibe positive attitudes to changes that are in line with global standards because Nigerians should begin to be assigned credits that change particular negative circumstances to good, no matter the challenges facing us as a nation,” Oritsejafor said.

We must avoid the road to Syria, Egypt—Kachako

Third Republic Senator, Isa Kachako, 73, who represented Kano South Senatorial District, said Nigerians must work hard to cement their unity and continue to play their vital roles in the continent of Africa and the world in general.

Kachako

“My message is let’s live together. Every Nigerian should work hard, love one another and learn to help one another with our resources. We should not toe the line of Syria and Egypt. They have the same languages, the same religion, but see how they are messing up because of agents of confusion.”

Our future remains bright –Ihedioha
Also speaking, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, said that Nigeria’s future remained bright in spite of challenges of national development.

In a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Oke Epia, he asked Nigerians to remain optimistic and committed to making the country realize her potentials and achieve her God given destiny.
He said: “Let us not despair in the face of daunting challenges even if though at 53, we ought to have surpassed certain minimum expectations.

Nigeria remains ours to build and we must continue to maintain hope and optimism. Nigeria will achieve her destiny and realize the lofty dreams of our founding fathers if we keep an attitude of resilience and determination to succeed.”

 http://www.vanguardngr.com

Now That School Holidays Are Over

It’s back to school again! Before you bring out the school gear; ensure that you and your child are fully prepared for the term/year ahead. As parents, what is expected of you? Here are tips to help you

Find out about your child’s school

Whether your child is returning to the same school or starting at a new one, it’s always a good idea to get information about   any changes at the school. Is there a new principal? Who are your child’s teachers? What’s going on with the curriculum? What tests will be administered to your child? You can call the school directly and speak with an administrator, or visit the school for information. You may also be able to check on a website or webpage for extra information.

Get your child into the back-to-school routin

During holidays, staying up late and sleeping in are the norm. According to wikihow, as school starts, children need to get back into a routine. By developing a bedtime routine, your child will be less resistant to the early morning wake-up calls urging them to get ready for school. In addition, have your child lay out his clothes before he go to bed. That will teach him to get organised and be prepared in case either of you is running late in the morning.

Play school with your child

 Use your strength in areas such as reading, writing, solving mathematics and your favourite subject; or what you have learnt in life. You can go over some of the basics with your child. Let it be in a room without distractions and this should be geared towards learning. Let the place be void of distractions such as video games, television e.t.c. You can do this for 30 minutes, two or three times a week. This is an excellent opportunity to see where your child needs help and to pass that information on to their teachers. School should be fun, let them enjoy every hour spent there.

Don’t forget to buy

1. Footwear

Comfort is key. Think of function too. Choose something sturdy and weather-friendly. They tend to play with straps so go for those strong strapped shoes.

2. Rain boots/coats

The rains are here and there is need to protect children with rain boots/coats. Luckily, you have lots of flattering colours to pick from. You would be surprised that they prefer raincoats to umbrellas.

3. Lunch pack

‘Please mummy, don’t allow them resume a new term with the same old lunch box.’ A child feels confident when he knows that ‘my food is in my lovely lunch box.’ Go for the multiple compartments to ensure that they have more than one diet option. One cute box could then serve for packing both lunch and breakfast.

4. School uniforms

You cannot afford them looking drab; so, get new uniforms. Some schools provide such but if you are shopping for it, ensure the measurement is updated so that the clothes don’t become a chore!

5. Backpacks

Shopping for backpacks could be very easy when you have the list of books for the term. There are multi functional backpacks and be sure your child would love them because they like spreading things around as well as collecting new items.

6. Cardigans

Rain can go away with a trendy wool cardigan. Choose a colour and fit that your child would be proud to wear around. But watch out for the fibres. Some cardigans are made from fabrics that have the tendency to itch the body. Test the fabric against your body to know if it irritates the skin.

7. Umbrellas

There are very colourful designs to choose from, especially those with cartoon characters. With such, they are happier and ready for school even if it rains cats and dogs.

Financial Aid And The Adult Child

It is the desire of every parent, to educate their children and to see them move on to become self-sufficient. With today’s challenging global economy, however, there is a huge increase in the number of dependent adult children. Described as “the worst job market in a generation”, huge numbers of graduate adult children face more economic uncertainty than their parents who were born at a time of relatively greater opportunity and promise. A challenge of 21st century parenting is the sheer number of dependent adult graduates. The question is, have today’s parents raised a generation of pampered youth who are unable to cope with the real world? Or, is today’s world just so difficult that they are unable to make their way without our assistance? At what age or stage are your children? Have they completed their education? Are they looking for jobs? Have they started work? How much do you continue to support them? Do you give all that they ask for or just a part. Will the money help them to become more self-sufficient or will it just lead to more and more requests for help? The answers will vary from family to family. Consider these scenarios and see where you fit: - You feel that your financial obligations end when your children graduate. - You support your children financially, and expect to do so for the rest of your life. - You will give your child the first few months’ rent and a security deposit for a new apartment and then they are on their own. - Your child can continue to live at home, rent-free and doesn’t need to contribute to any of the household expenses. - You will set them up in an apartment which you will fund until they are on their feet. - You have educated your child and will not give any further financial support, either because you cannot afford to, or you choose not to. When should you step in and when should you hold back? Take time to analyse the request carefully, particularly if a significant sum is required. Is there a genuine need? If they desperately need the money for an important, legitimate need and you can afford it, then there is no harm in giving or lending as the case may be. Most parents would step in during a true emergency, such as if a child or grandchild needs medical care, or school fees must be paid to keep children in school. It is wonderful to be able to support your children but for a great many parents, continuing to financially support adult kids has serious implications for their financial future, particularly retirement. If you sit down to actually assess the numbers in terms of how much longer you must continue to earn, it puts it into perspective. Remember you need to look after yourself so that you do not become dependent on them in later years. Every child is different. Take a good look at your each of your children’s money personalities and the family dynamics. In the same family, you will discover that various children deal with money matters differently. You find one child has been frugal from their earliest years, whilst another who is a spendthrift and extravagant, has a sense of entitlement. Some children are simply unwilling to accept that they may need to take a step down on the economic ladder when they leave home. Indeed, many young adults seek to imitate their parent’s lifestyle that has taken nearly a half-century to build. Be conscious of the emotional impact for the whole family, of financial aid. If the handouts are jeopardising family relationships and finances, then things need to change. When adult children constantly demand and receive money, the feelings of dependency that this creates, can lead to resentment. Parents too may feel resentful, about being constantly pressured to provide. The psychological dynamics get even more complicated if some adult children are getting help whilst others aren’t. You find families where for example two self-sufficient daughters deeply resent the large sums being spent on their spoilt brother; they may feel that they are being penalized for being financially responsible. There is a fine line between helping and spoiling your children. How much are you really helping by keeping them dependent on you? If they know that they can always come back to you for a bail out, how will they learn to deal with financial setbacks or how to manage their own money. Studies show that the more dependent children are on their parents, the less able they are to be economically self-sufficient. Of course it makes smart economic sense for a child to move back home where life is comfortable with full board. As mean as it sounds, by allowing adult children to live at home rent free with no obligations or responsibility whatsoever, is not teaching them financial responsibility. At a minimum they should be encouraged to cover some basic expenses whilst putting away some savings to prepare them for the realities of starting out on their own. Even if money is no object for you, make an effort to wean your child off you financially, and consider ways to help them more self-sufficient. If you are going to help a child pay off mobile phone or other debt, put something in writing clearly stating the terms including interest and repayment schedule. Clear expectations and defined limits are always better for all parties. Adult children also need to know in advance when financial aid will begin to be withdrawn and may eventually stop. Saying no is one of the most difficult things for a parent to do, but sometimes you have to step back, take a deep breath, and let whatever happens, happen. Even if some pain results, your child may just learn some valuable life lessons before it is too late. They might not appreciate it now, but remember that your efforts to make them financially self-sufficient will ultimately result in more balanced, more purposeful and more empowered adults; the alternative can be grim.

Source: http://www.punchng.com

Yoghurt Prevents Typhoid,Coronary Heart Disease,Says Nutritionist

Abdul told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that yoghurt, could not only prevent heart diseases but also lowers the risks of many ailments, including colon cancer.``Yoghurt is a rich source of calcium and mineral that contributes to colon health and decreases the risk of colon cancer,’’ she said. Abdul said that yoghurt was a great source of protein, calcium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B12 which were important for bone health.She said that yoghurt was also a good source of phosphorous, riboflavin-Vitamin B2, Pantothenic acid-vitamin B5, iodine, zinc, potassium, protein and molybdenum. ``It also contains essential amino acids that cannot be produced by your body itself and must be provided for in your diet.’’``Yoghurts that contain good bacteria or probiotics can help balance a woman's body, provide better health to certain body parts and naturally lower the PH levels of the vaginal tract,`` Abdul said. She also explained that yoghurt could provide energy that helped in keeping the blood sugar levels constant and could keep one going in busy day.``The lactic acid in the yoghurt aids in the digestion of the milk calcium, making it easier to absorb.’’Abdul also said that yoghurt had also been shown to be beneficial for inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disorders and arthritis.`` Yoghurt can also shut down the bacterium responsible for ulcers. ’’She also explained that the bacterial cultures in yoghurt had been shown to stimulate infection-fighting white cells in the bloodstream.``Eating yoghurt regularly can be beneficial to your health whether you're a man or woman. ’’Abdul said that the calcium content of yoghurt was important for pregnant women whose calcium reserves were used by their growing baby. She said that drinking yoghurt would support the normal growth and development of bones in children and would help provide nutrients that maintained bone solidity and strength throughout life. Abdul said that children could consume all kinds of yoghurt and enjoy its benefits as a source of protein, calcium, and high phosphorus. She said that the essential mineral in yoghurt known as zinc could help male infertility and also consuming adequate amounts of this mineral improves the quality of a man's sperm. Abdul said that the vitamin D and calcium content of yoghurt were beneficial to the prevention of osteoporosis, adding that the combination of the nutrients could help improve bone density in adult women. She, therefore, recommended yoghurts with high doses of Vitamin D and calcium for people diagnosed with osteoporosis as it could help with their condition after consultation with their doctor. ``Yoghurt is a fermented dairy product made from milk, you can enjoy it plain, flavoured, or mixed with fruit or fruit syrups.’’ ``If one is allergic to milk, yoghurt should be avoided because it contains milk proteins which trigger one’s allergies and reaction could lead to wheezing, hives and vomiting.'' (NAN)

8th International Trade Fair In Abuja

TARABA CULTURAL TROUPE PERFORMING DURING THE STATE'S DAY AT THE ONGOING 8TH ABUJA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR IN ABUJA ON MONDAY (30/9/13).

PHCN Workers Protest In Abuja,Gombe,Kano Over Alleged Non Payment Of Benefits

Mr Temple Iworiwa,  the Zonal Organising Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, said while addressing newsmen, that the union was not against the privatisation of the company. He explained that the protest was due to the Federal Government's position to go ahead with the official hand over of the company to the investors without resolving all the labour related matters. He said some of the agreements reached between the union and the Hassan Sunmonu-led negotiating team in July 2012 were not observed. Iworiwa said currently, almost 40 per cent of PHCN staff had not yet received their severance benefits. ``The reports reaching the union is that majority of the banks can not give financial backing to the schedule sent to them

by the government, meaning that government does not have money.``Let me take you back down memory lane. Some of the contents of the agreement included biometrics verification for retired and serving PHCN staff.'' He appealed to government to reconsider its steps and pay all dues to the workers.Iworiwa said the protest was also being observed in the 36 states of the federation including the FCT. NAN reports that some of the workers in Gombe locked up the company's offices as part of the protest. The workers, carrying placards with various inscriptions, said they would not allow the hand-over of the company to private investors until their entitlements were settled. Addressing workers in Gombe, the leader of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Mr Yakubu Dung, urged the Federal Government to settle the labour issues. Also in Kano, the North Zonal Chapter of the NUEE held a peaceful demonstration over the matter. In a speech, the General-Secretary of the union, Mr Joe Ajaero, said the demonstration was because of alleged government’s silence on their entitlements. The Chairman of the NLC in Kano State, Malam Yunusa Danguguwa, expressed the congress'  support to the unions, saying it was determined to ensure the resolution of the stalemate with the government. But earlier at the formal hand-over ceremony of share certificates and licences to new core owners of PHCN successor companies on Monday, President Goodluck Jonathan said all the labour issues would be addressed by the government. (NAN)