Author: Saint Augustine

Onitsha traders at the various markets join the APGA campaign train Tuesday as part of the final push to ensure victory for candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and President Goodluck Jonathan during the forthcoming 2015 Elections, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano alongside his wife, Ebelechukwu and other APGA fateful embarked on a whirlwind campaign tour of major markets in Onitsha. The campaign tour which kicked-off at the Ose-Okwodu Market took the Governor and his entourage through the Bright Street Market to White House Headquarters of the Onitsha Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA) down to Marine…

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) has pleaded with the Federal Government to ensure that the Council is transmuted into the National Transport Commission (NTC). Speaking yesterday when the Special Adviser to the President on Maritime Services, Leke Oyewole visited the Council, its Executive Secretary, Hassan Bello said the Council has the manpower and wealth of experience to carry out the responsibilities the bill seeks to achieve. He said instead of settling up a new body, the NSC should be allowed to transform into the NTC noting that it will only amount to a duplication of functions if another body is…

The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association has said that one Mr. Lawan Ali arrested by the security operatives last week was not a member of the association as claimed by the Nigerian Navy. It will be recalled that the Nigerian Navy last week paraded Ali who was arrested for hijacking a truck laddened with petroleum product with a Nigerian Navy uniform claiming to be an ex-Naval Officer that was dismissed from the Navy few years ago. Also recall that the Nigerian Navy after interrogating the suspect came out to inform the public that the uniform…

A Customs licensed agent, Sir Tony Anakebe has applauded the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan in the nation’s maritime sector in the last 4 years saying that he had done a lot to change the fortunes of the industry so short a time. Speaking with newsmen in his office in Lagos on Tuesday, Anakebe who is also the Managing Director of Gold-Link Investments Limited pointed out the appointment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the Commercial regulator of the nation’s ports as the most remarkable of those achievements. According to him,” we have been canvassing for it even when Obasanjo…

The Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association has expressed the hope that the crisis currently rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leading to the fractionalization of the apex labour body would soon be resolved. Recall that the NLC on the 12th of March, 2015 held its rescheduled congress to elect its National Officers where Comrade Ayuba Wabba of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union emerged the National President which was rejected outrightly by 23 member Unions who later held another Congress in Lagos where Comrade Joe Ajero of the Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) emerged…

…Hails programme in maritime capacity building The Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) received accolades from the President and Commander in Chief, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) on Sunday in Lagos at a reception hosted in their honour by the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum. Mr. President, while acknowledging the vision of the Management of NIMASA at ensuring the placement of these young Nigerians in reputable maritime institutions across the globe, admonished the beneficiaries of the programme to exhibit great professionalism when they take on the global challenges in the maritime sector after…

Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amechi has wished his deputy,Engr Tele Ikuru who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday well adding that the reasons adduced by his deputy for his defection  were “shocking”. A statement issued after  Ikuru  defected said, “ Amechi wishes to note that the reasons adduced by Engr. Ikuru are shocking as Deputy Governor lkuru has consistently been the one driving political activities in his local government area of Andoni. He has also been the second in command driving politics and governance in Rivers state”. Amaechi who spoke through …

The people of Oruku Community in Nkanu East local government area of Enugu State have threatened to boycott the March 28 and April 11, 2015 elections if the two polling units relocated from the community to the neighbouring Umuode community were not restored. The community said there was no justification for the relocation of the two polling units by the commission as the action was capable of disenfranchising several eligible voters in the area and urged the commission to reverse it before the coming elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State had through a letter to the…

The Chairman Medical and Health Workers’ Union Imo State chapter, Nzenwata Francis Iheanacho has advised the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba not to allow incessant strike destabilize his regime. Ihenacho who gave the advice in Owerri yesterday stated that for Wabba to succeed in moving NLC beyond its present situation, he must focus on reconciling with the aggrieved people who lost out in the last election. The Medical Workers’ Union Chieftain who expressed full confidence in Wabba who is also from medical workers’ union, urged him to focus in dialogue and constructive engagement in…

President Barack Obama of the United States of America (USA) has urged Nigerians to reject “those who call for violence” .Obama made this call in his video message to Nigerians ahead of this Saturday’s Presidential election. He specifically advised Nigerians to “help keep the peace, no matter who wins.” “I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence.  And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins”. Obama’s message is a clear sign of global…