News

Britain, Nigeria’s past, future deeply intertwined, says Envoy

Published

7 months ago

September 22, 2023

The relationship between Britain and Nigeria is deeply intertwined, the British Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones has said.

Llewellyn-Jones made this known in his keynote address at a book presentation titled “ The Making of Modern Nigeria – From Pre-colonial Era Till Date,’’ by the Sun Publishing Limited, the publisher of Sun Daily on Thursday in Abuja.

”Britain or Nigeria can not escape history. As two nations, our past and present are deep and intertwined.’’

Llewellyn-Jones added that both countries strive together for peace, prosperity, and democracy.

“We have a shared togetherness today. We share the Commonwealth values as members of the Commonwealth.

“We share the values of democracy, of human rights of international peace and security, of tolerance, respect and underhand understanding of freedom of expression, separation of powers, and the rule of law.

“Nigeria has been independent since 1960. We will celebrate 63 years of independence on Oct. 1. We also celebrate the return to democracy in 1999.’’

Llewellyn-Jones added that both countries did not only share deep history, but also working relationship.

“As an indication of our history, His Majesty the King has made four visits to Nigeria. One of the earliest visitors received after his accession to the throne was that of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I’m pleased to have seen that our Minister of Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Minister, Mr James Cleverly, visited in August and President Bola Tinubu and our Prime Minister Sunak met in New Delhi only a few weeks ago.

“A sign of our future is that the UK issued 65,000 student visas to Nigerian students to come and study in the UK.

“Nigeria is the third largest country in the world in terms of students in the UK. There are many Nigerians and people of Nigerian descent operating at the top of our society, as Secretary of State for business and trade, kemi Badenoch is a Nigerian descent.

“Perhaps a little closer to home, when I was treated for malaria back in the UK, the doctor was from Lagos. we base our relationship not only on our history, but on our current issues and our shared future,’’ she said.

The deputy high commissioner due to finish her tenure in Nigeria by the end of 2023 said she had lived in the country for four years and have come to love Nigeria complexity, diversity, deep cultures and her special people.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume commendied the Sun Publishing Limited for the book project.

Akume described it as a wonderful document, urging the youths to read it.

“It is a bridge gap between the ancient and the modern, trying to bring to the concept of readership to our teeming youths who may have lost touch with history.

“So I am quite appreciative of this very excellent work by your team and commenced you so much

“I wishe that the teeming youths and all Nigerians in general should avail themselves opportunity of having knowledge of what has happened and what is happening to Nigeria through this very wonderful work,’’ Akume said.

Contributing, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Rep. Phili Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House, said that the book would contribute to knowledge and research work in the country.

“This is considered to be an incredible piece of well research work to enrich the literature of to fill the gaps in the chronicle of the Nigerian story.

“ It is surely a contribution to shape the political knowledge of our journey to nationhood.

“The book showcases and details into cases of Nigerians journey from pre-colonial to contemporary approach of nation building and provides a comprehensive insight into Nigerian social, economic and political trajectories.

“I commend management of the Sun limited for this good contribution to knowledge. It is a ready resource for policymakers, academics, and students of Nigeria political history,’’ he said.

He said that the public presentation could not have come at a better time, because young Nigerians have begun the quest for participation and inclusion in governance.

News

Woman killed while crossing road in Anambra

Published

5 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Fellow Press

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, has confirmed the death of a woman in an accident at Okpoko Market on the Asaba-Onitsha Road.

The Sector Commander, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, who confirmed the accident to journalists in Awka on Thursday, said that the woman was hit while she was crossing the road.

He said that the accident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved a commercial tow truck with registration number XA550BMA.

“Eyewitness report reaching us indicates that the truck was towing a vehicle in an uncontrollable speed along the axis.

“The vehicle that was being towed got detached from the tow truck.

“It hit and killed a female adult, who was said to be crossing the road, while the tow truck continued its movement.

“FRSC rescue team came to the scene and took the woman to Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, where she was confirmed dead and her body deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.

While sympathising with the family of the dead, the sector commander urged motorists, especially tow truck drivers, to exercise a high level of professionalism.

He also urged the drivers to always use standard equipment and avoid speeding.

News

LASG’s maize palliative impactful, says poultry association chair

Published

6 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Desmond Ukafor

The Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, said the state government’s maize palliative to members of the association made a positive impact on the sector.

Iyiola said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

“We received about 150,000 tons of maize in February from the Lagos State government as palliative to cushion the effect of high feed prices.

“The major benefit of the palliative is that it actually cushioned the cost of production for most poultry farmers in the state.

“The palliative was beneficial as it made the cost of some poultry produce, especially eggs to drop,” Iyiola said.

He noted that prior to the palliative, a crate of egg was sold between N3,500 and N3,700 at the farm gate, but after the palliative, it now sells between N3,200 and N3,400.

According to the PAN chair, retailers and middlemen who sell from N3,800 to N4,200 do that for their personal gain.

“We have urged our members to sell their eggs at reasonable prices following the receipt of the palliative from the government.

“We appreciate the Lagos State government for the palliative but we also urge the federal government to do likewise, to further reduce the cost of production in the sector.

“This will consequently lead to drop in the prices of all poultry produce across board,” he said.

He said the palliative was shared among financial members of the association at no extra cost.

“As an association we shared the grains equally across PAN’s eight zones in the state equally. We also mandated each zone not the sell even a grain of the maize.

“We, however, considered new poultry farmers who wanted to the join the association as beneficiaries of the palliative,” said Iyiola.

He noted that through the palliative, more poultry farmers were recruited into the association.

“The maize was shared only to poultry farmers and not feed millers, it is the major component of poultry feed formulation,” he said.